Lizard in Sambar Exposes Food Safety Lapses in Adilabad Hotels, Sweet Shops

ADILABAD: Food adulteration and poor hygiene practices are being reported across the erstwhile Adilabad district, raising concerns over food safety in hotels, restaurants and sweet shops.

A recent incident in Adilabad town, where a customer allegedly found a lizard in sambar served with dosa at a local hotel, has heightened public concern. Residents say they are increasingly wary of consuming food items such as biryani, pani puri and sweets from eateries.

Unhygienic conditions are reported in several establishments, including those located at bus stands, with concerns over food safety and kitchen maintenance. There are allegations that stale food is preserved and reused after deep frying to mask spoilage.

Residents have also alleged lack of monitoring by authorities on food preparation and serving practices. Concerns have been raised over the use of contaminated water in preparing snacks, which may lead to health issues.

K. Raghavender, a resident of Adilabad, said that food items are often stored in refrigerators for extended periods and served as fresh. He termed the recent incident “shocking” and said access to fresh food and sweets has become limited. He called for regular inspections of hotels, restaurants and sweet shops by officials.

Similar concerns have been reported from Nirmal, where adulterated and stale food was allegedly served in a hotel last year, and Mancherial, where residents point to a lack of surveillance despite a large floating population.

In October 2024, the Telangana State Food Safety Task Force conducted inspections in Adilabad town and found expired and damaged food materials, including rotten chicken and improperly stored items. Officials reported violations of safety standards, use of food colours and unhygienic conditions in several establishments.

There are also allegations of adulterated edible oil being supplied in and around Adilabad under the label of branded products. Residents in agency areas are said to be affected, with medical experts warning of possible respiratory issues linked to consumption of adulterated oil.

In September 2019, task force police and food inspectors seized 1,500 empty packets suspected to be used for edible oil adulteration. A preliminary inquiry by the police and food inspector found that the shop owner was allegedly adulterating branded edible oil by removing part of the contents and replacing it with palm oil.

Residents have urged municipal and corporation authorities to address food adulteration and quality concerns. Allegations have also been made that inspections are infrequent and enforcement remains limited in several areas.