Key Update

A hidden network is illegally collecting used cooking oil from hotels and catering units in Tirupati and Tirumala. Middlemen treat the oil with chemicals to remove its dark colour and foul smell, then sell it cheaply to small eateries and roadside vendors instead of sending it to authorised RUCO (Repurpose Used Cooking Oil) recycling agencies. Food safety laws prohibit reusing cooking oil once its Total Polar Compounds (TPC) exceed 25%, a level that signals harmful degradation. Authorities collect around 1,200–1,500 litres of used oil monthly, but a large volume bypasses the regulated system, keeping the illegal trade alive.

Weak Enforcement Worsens the Problem

Tirupati’s Food Safety department monitors hundreds of food establishments with only two officers. Officials must send samples to Hyderabad or Chennai for testing because the district lacks a local laboratory, often delaying action by up to two weeks. By the time authorities receive reports, offenders continue their operations unchecked.

Tirumala Faces Greater Risk

In Tirumala, many fast-food outlets and canteens repeatedly reuse degraded oil despite supervision by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams’ Health department. Vendors frequently violate licensing rules, and even some licensed restaurants fail to meet hygiene standards. Authorities have identified key hotspots near the railway station, bus stand, SV University Road, Karakambadi Road, and the Tirumala bypass, where low-cost food is prepared using illegally recycled oil.

Medical Experts Sound the Alarm

Doctors warn that repeatedly heated oil releases toxic substances that damage the digestive system and liver. They report rising cases of gastric disorders, skin allergies, metabolic complications, and long-term risks of serious diseases among residents consuming such food.

Source: Deccan Chronicle