Food Safety Inspection Uncovers Spoiled Vegetables and Violations at Kacheguda Hotel

Food Safety Department officials carried out an inspection at Sweekar Hotel, situated at Kacheguda crossroads in Hyderabad, uncovering severe hygiene violations and substandard food handling practices. The task force identified rotten produce, unsanitary kitchen conditions, and missing mandatory compliance documentation during their check of the premises.

During the physical examination of the hotel's food storage and preparation areas, inspecting officers discovered fungal-contaminated cabbage, lemons suffering from citrus canker, and decayed tomatoes set aside for kitchen use. Furthermore, inspectors observed that boiled potatoes were being processed and used without being subjected to basic cleaning and peeling protocols.

The official report highlighted widespread sanitary deficiencies across the kitchen, including an active housefly infestation and generally unhygienic environmental conditions. Inspecting staff observed prepared food items kept inside refrigeration units without proper covers or labels, leaving the food exposed and untraceable regarding preparation timelines.

The inspection team highlighted cross-contamination hazards in the storage layout, noting that raw vegetables were stored in close proximity to semi-prepared boiled noodles. The physical arrangement presented an immediate risk of transferring contaminants between raw and pre-cooked food items.

In addition to physical food violations, Sweekar Hotel failed to meet multiple regulatory and administrative requirements. The facility did not have mandatory Food Safety Training and Certification (FoSTaC) trained personnel present on site during the inspection. Furthermore, the management was unable to produce essential operational logs, including employee health records, pest control maintenance logs, official water testing analysis reports, and records detailing the disposal of used cooking oil.

As a direct consequence of the non-compliance, food safety officials seized a 700-gram packet of non-compliant hakka noodles that lacked a batch number and nutritional details, in direct violation of the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations. Official legal action has been initiated against the operator under the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006. Food safety authorities reiterated that all Food Business Operators must strictly comply with established hygiene norms to safeguard public health.