Key Update

FSSAI teams inspected hotels, restaurants, and food outlets in Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh on August 19, 2025, and found that nearly half of the samples collected were unsafe. Twenty teams carried out surprise checks at biryani points, bakeries, mandis and other eateries. They collected 39 food and beverage samples and sent them to the State Food Laboratory in Nacharam.

Lab Flags 20 Unsafe or Substandard Items

The State Food Laboratory confirmed that 20 food samples failed safety standards. Inspectors had collected items such as ice creams, cashews, vegetarian and non-vegetarian snacks, chicken fry, curd, ginger paste, chicken biryani, biscuits, mutton biryani and several other products for testing. Of these, 17 samples were unsafe, and 3 were substandard. Officials issued notices to the concerned establishments under Section 46(4) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

Two restaurant owners challenged the results and filed appeals with the Central Food Laboratory in Mysore. Authorities have already initiated prosecution and plan to continue conducting raids on eateries, restaurants, hotels and bakeries. They also confirmed that strict action will be taken against anyone found selling adulterated food.

Public Urged to Report Unsafe Food

He advised the public to report any complaints about substandard or adulterated food to the Food Safety Office at the Old Government General Hospital premises, opposite Tummalapalli Kalakshetram, Hanumanpet, Vijayawada.

Source: The Hindu