Mahabubnagar Food Safety Raid: Snacks Worth ₹60,500 Seized, Manufacturer's License Suspended

On December 14, 2024, a state-level food safety team carried out inspections in the Mahabubnagar district of Telangana. One of the inspections took place at Sri Santosh Foods, a food store and manufacturing unit in Yenugonda, where several violations were discovered. The findings led to the suspension of the establishment’s license under the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act 2006. Inspectors discovered that several food products were packaged with incorrect and expired food licenses. Additionally, mandatory details such as manufacturing and expiry dates were missing from the product labels.

During the inspection, the task force seized food items valued at ₹60,500, including chips, roasted groundnuts, fried moong dal, and kara mixture, due to violations related to hygiene and improper labeling. The team also identified hazardous practices such as storing groundnuts in urea bags, which is strictly prohibited as it presents contamination risks.

Further concerns arose when pest-infested flour and fungal-infected potatoes, worth ₹26,000, were found and discarded immediately. Additionally, it was revealed that the establishment was using reused oil and synthetic food colors, both of which are banned by food safety regulations. The inspection at Sri Santosh Foods uncovered significant lapses, leading to the suspension of the establishment’s operating license.

The Telangana Food Safety Task Force has taken similar action in the past by suspending licenses. Earlier, two ginger-garlic paste manufacturing units in Hyderabad's Katedan area were inspected, leading to the suspension of their licenses after multiple violations were discovered. In one instance, inspectors confiscated 1,000 kilograms of ginger-garlic paste due to concerns over adulteration and substandard quality. At another facility, 400 kilos of packed paste were seized, along with other problematic items.

The Telangana Food Safety Department has carried out several raids at other establishments as well. For example, a raid on Sunny Foods in Kallakal, Manoharabad, on December 3 revealed that the business was operating without a valid FSSAI license. Additionally, the company was found violating FSSAI labeling guidelines by using misleading product names and images. The raid also discovered expired food additives, such as tomato masala and maggie masala, used in ready-to-eat snacks, resulting in the seizure and disposal of ₹2.13 lakh worth of products.

The department's actions in Hyderabad have not been limited to food manufacturing units. On December 14, another raid was carried out at the Daily Rituals restaurant in Jubilee Hills, where expired products, such as biryani flavor and samosa pastry, were found. Both items, which had expired in October and November 2024, respectively, were seized.

On December 13, a raid was also conducted at Heart Cup Coffee Restaurant and Bar, where food safety officials found a live cockroach infestation in the kitchen, along with unclean floors and improperly managed waste disposal. The kitchen's ceiling was covered with soot, indicating poor hygiene conditions.

Furthermore, a raid on nutraceutical manufacturing units in IDA Mallapur on November 20 revealed significant safety violations. Vin Biomed and Nuvista Pharmaceutical Pvt Ltd were found to be operating without proper licenses and regulatory compliance, prompting the seizure of six kilograms of co-Enzyme Q10 powder and 17 kilograms of MK Cocoa Powder worth ₹6,800, which had no FSSAI license or batch number.

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Sai Sindhuja K/MSM)