Introduction

The Alpha Hotel located in Secunderabad is the subject of this wrap by Telangana’s Commissioner of Food Safety, who has recently initiated a legal process for violations observed during a recent food safety inspection, the FBO interfered with the officials and refused to sign the inspection report, which is a prosecutable offence as defined in Clause 62 of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, which includes a jail term of three months and a fine of not exceeding ₹1 lakh.

Findings from the inspection

The inspection uncovered several critical issues that pose significant health risks to patrons:

Hygiene Violations: Cutting boards, knives, and some raw foods were not stored properly in the refrigerator as required by health standards. This improper storage contributes to cross-contamination, which poses a serious threat to consumers as it results in potentially causing foodborne illnesses.

Unsanitary Conditions: Some of the indicators of unhygienic practices identified included washed dishes being stored on tables, which were also used as shelving for ingredients in meal preparation, open dust bins, and loose ceiling plaster in the food preparation areas.

Labelling Issues: Alpha brand ice cream and bread lacked important details like manufacturing dates and batch numbers. Which are essential for consumer safety and traceability.

Historical Non-Compliance: This is not the first time that Alpha Hotel has been criticised for hygiene issues. The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) temporarily closed the establishment for three days in September 2023 over similar hygiene violations.

The management of Alpha Hotel has been advised to respond to these issues forthwith to prevent food from being served in a manner that may negatively affect the customer’s health and to meet the sanitation standards as provided for by Indian law.

Legal Implications

According to Clause 62 of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, any obstruction to officials while visiting any premises is a grave violation. The act highlights the severe measures that a violator can face, which include imprisonment of up to 3 months and a fine of up to one lakh rupees. The legal action against Alpha Hotel should be a warning to all food business operators to comply with food safety laws.

The Food Safety Department has urged the need to bolster and enhance hygiene and sanitation standards in eateries. By Cooperating closely with consumers and stakeholders, the authorities remain committed to raising the overall level of food safety.

Conclusion

It is expected that, during the legal proceedings, the management of Alpha Hotel will improve its standards to comply with food safety regulations. The community and patrons await new developments in this case, which underscores the importance of food safety and hygiene in the hospitality industry.