H-FAST Flags Food Safety Violations in City

Hyderabad:Special teams of H‑FAST Hyderabad conducted surprise inspections on Wednesday and found violations at several establishments.

At the ZeptoNow store, Mallepally, officials detected cockroach and rodent infestation and collected samples for further investigation.

At a paratha unit in Tadban, inspectors found unhygienic conditions, improper food handling and advanced‑dated packaging.

At Eagle Fisheries, Secunderabad, officials seized rotten chicken, apprehended the accused and imposed a ₹3,000 fine.

Cases have been handed over to the Food Safety, Police and Veterinary authorities for further legal action.

Food safety lapses flagged at corporate schools in city

Hyderabad:Food safety teams of the Cyberabad Municipal Corporation (CMC) inspected three corporate schools and flagged hygiene lapses during routine checks.

At CHIREC International School, Kondapur, officials noted poor lighting in one kitchen section, unclean air curtains in the walk‑in chiller and worn‑out chopping boards. The staff were instructed to improve lighting, replace boards and clean air curtains.

At Glendale International School Cambridge, Gopanpally, inspectors found patchy flooring with water stagnation in the wash area, absence of the FSSAI licence display, and improper storage of food and non‑food items together. The transport vehicle licence was not produced, dustbins lacked lids, and bananas were stored near washrooms without pallets. An improvement notice was issued.

At The Gaudium School, Kollur, the team found a slippery floor in the washing area and noted that the FSSAI licence displayed belonged to another branch. The school was advised to seek “Eat Right Campus” certification and rectify the lapses.

Food safety violations found at two major educational institutions

Hydeerabad:Food Safety teams of the Cyberabad Municipal Corporation uncovered serious hygiene and food safety violations at the central kitchens of Narayana Educational Society and Sri Chaitanya Group of Colleges in Madhapur during inspections on Wednesday, prompting authorities to issue improvement notices to both institutions.

At Narayana Educational Society’s central kitchen, officials found uneven flooring causing water stagnation, heavy housefly infestation without fly traps, open dustbins near the food transportation area, absence of updated water quality reports, machinery that was not being sanitised with hot water and rusted food transport vehicles. The kitchen scored 98 out of 138 (71 per cent) in the hygiene assessment.

At Sri Vasista Educational Trust, which operates the central kitchen for Sri Chaitanya Group of Colleges, inspectors reported damaged flooring with water stagnation, heavy housefly infestation, open bins containing food waste, expired medical fitness certificates of food handlers, missing pest control and water testing records, improper vegetable segregation, stray dogs near the kitchen entrance, cat faeces in the storage area and an unhygienic potato peeling machine. The facility scored 72 out of 108 (67 per cent) in the hygiene assessment.

Four held for selling stale fish

Hyderabad:The Commissioner’s Task Force, Golconda team, along with Mangalhat police, raided “Tara Fisheries” at Machipura Baitak, Mangalhat, and arrested four persons for selling stale seafood preserved with sodium bicarbonate. About 100 kg of prawns, 62 kg of fish and 10 kg of sodium bicarbonate powder, all worth ₹90,000, were seized.

The accused were identified as Shankar Singh, 24, owner of the store; Mann Singh, 32, seafood supplier; Gulab Singh, 36, worker; and Rohit Singh, 31, owner of the building — all residents of Machipura.

Police said Shankar Singh procured fish and prawns cheaply from Begum Bazaar market and preserved them in unhygienic conditions using sodium bicarbonate. He stored them in deep freezers and plastic tubs filled with stagnant water to delay decomposition and suppress foul smell.

The seafood was then supplied under the guise of being fresh to marriage functions, events and hotels, putting public health at risk.

A press release from the DCP Task Force said the accused were booked for illegal trade practices and endangering human life.