Article Today, Hyderabad:
Food safety authorities in Telangana carried out special inspections across the State on October 25 and 26, focusing on storage centres and warehouses used by major online delivery and e-commerce platforms. The drive covered 75 warehouses, with the highest number of inspections conducted in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation limits. Officials said the checks were aimed at verifying compliance with food safety and hygiene standards.
Food Safety Violations in Major Hubs
The inspections revealed multiple violations in Hyderabad, where 25 units were examined and 19 of them were issued notices for non-compliance. Similar lapses were found in Medchal and Sangareddy districts. In Warangal, officials collected 15 samples for laboratory testing. The inspections covered facilities linked to several well-known quick-commerce and online grocery platforms.
Seizure of Unsafe Food
During the raids, three units were sealed for serious violations. Officials seized large quantities of expired, improperly labelled and deteriorated food items from 1,903 units inspected during the broader enforcement exercise. About 77 kilograms of unfit food, including spoiled vegetables and time-expired packaged goods, were destroyed on the spot to prevent their sale to consumers.
Health Risks Underlined
Food safety officials warned that the consumption of such unsafe products could lead to serious health complications, including food poisoning and digestive disorders. They said improper storage conditions, failure to maintain cold chains and poor stock rotation were among the key issues observed during the inspections.
Notices and Legal Action
The Food Safety Commissioner, G. Sangeetha Satyanarayana, confirmed that notices were served on 32 units for violations of safety norms. She stated that strict action would follow against repeat offenders under the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act. Authorities also indicated that further inspections would continue across the State.
Consumer Caution Advised
Meanwhile, officials urged consumers to remain vigilant while purchasing food items online. They advised buyers to carefully check expiry dates, packaging conditions and labelling details at the time of delivery. Therefore, while regulatory enforcement continues, consumer awareness was described as an equally important safeguard for public health.
