Food safety officials conduct crackdowns in Hyderabad and Kerala

Food safety authorities in India have conducted major enforcement operations in Hyderabad and Kerala to address hygiene violations and unsafe food practices.

In Hyderabad, thirteen joint teams from the Telangana Standards Authority for Food and Essential Drugs (TG SAFE) inspected 16 of sweet manufacturing and retail units. The operation resulted in the closure of five establishments, including Balaji Sweets and Mamatha Sweet House, for operating without valid FSSAI licenses and maintaining unhygienic conditions. Officials reported infestations of cockroaches, flies, and rodents, as well as the use of expired items and newspapers to cover food. Approximately 3,546.5 kg of food articles worth Rs 16.86 lakh were seized or discarded.

In Kerala, a statewide crackdown known as ‘Operation Thelima 2.0’ involved 56 teams inspecting 160 snack-making units. Health Minister K Muraleedharan announced that 568 litres of used cooking oil and 7,000 fried snacks were destroyed after failing quality tests. The drive led to the suspension of 32 licenses. Officials utilized specialized devices to test for Total Polar Compounds (TPC) in cooking oil, ensuring it did not exceed the 25 per cent limit for safe reuse.