Hyderabad: Although the violation surfaced only when food inspectors checked the meat at Shah Ghouse Hotel on Tuesday, hotels buying red meat from private butchers is nothing new. Hotels still purchase meat outside the GHMC slaughter houses, which is against the Slaughter Act 1955. Buying meat from butchers raises doubts on the quality of meat, age and health of the animal slaughtered, as butchers may not follow norms.
It is for the GHMC health and veterinary departments to keep a regular check on the meat being sold. However, only a few cases have been booked so far. The GHMC Act makes it mandatory for hoteliers to purchase meat from slaughterhouses recognised by the civic body. Animals are slaughtered in these slaughterhouses after examination by veterinarians and checks on hygiene.
“Eateries should not procure unstamped (unsea-led) meat from illegally slaughtered animals, which may lead to public health hazards,” the Act says and notes that it is highly irregular and against the provisions of GHMC Act, 1955 and provision of Food Safety and Standard Act 2006 and Rules 2011.
Minister K.T. Rama Rao has been making several appeals to citizens not to slaughter animals in lanes and bylanes and to utilise the modernised slaughterhouses. The Act states that no animal should be slaughtered in sight of other animals. But this is not being followed. The veterinary department has failed to check on the functioning of butchers.
