The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) authorities appear to have been turning a blind eye towards the quality of food items being served at various hotels, restaurants and other eateries in the city.
The GHMC is finding it tough to identify and address the safety hazards in various eating establishments due to lack of staff.
The Greater Hyderabad, with a population of nearly 80 lakh, has around 18,000 big, medium, small hotels and restaurants with valid trade licenses. Another 10,000 eating establishments are being run without valid trade licenses in all 18 GHMC circles. However the GHMC has only four food safety officers (Food Inspectors) working in its limits to monitor these establishments.
In the last three years, the GHMC has managed to take action against only 234 eating establishments by just penalising them with meager amounts. The total penalties collected since 2010 is Rs 23,400 only.
Lack of regular monitoring and surprise raids is encouraging a majority of medium and small hotels, restaurants in the city to serve adulterated food items, risking the health of the customers.
Dead cockroaches, houseflies and other insects in the food items are a common sight thanks to the unhygienic conditions maintained at the eateries.
Speaking to the Express, GHMC officials said that the main role of food safety officers is to frequently inspect all the food establishments for licenses, manufacturing, handling, selling of an food article within the areas under their purview.
The food inspectors should also procure food samples and send it for analysis if necessary. Thet should ensure that the sample of food is being manufactured, stocked and sold in accordance to the provisions being by the regulations set by the government.
The officials concerned should also investigate into complaints received from the consumers. The GHMC is finding it tough to identify and address the safety hazards in various eating establishments due to lack of staff.
In 2010, about 45 cases were booked and a penalty of `4,500 was collected. As many as 54 cases were registered in 2011 and a fine of `5,400 was charged and in 2012, the food inspectors registered 135 cases with a penalty of `13,500. There is no data of cases of available for this current year.
The GHMC officials say that each circle should have at least one food inspector to check the quality of food and maintenance in the hotels.
The GHMC is finding it tough to identify and address the safety hazards in various eating establishments due to lack of staff.
The Greater Hyderabad, with a population of nearly 80 lakh, has around 18,000 big, medium, small hotels and restaurants with valid trade licenses. Another 10,000 eating establishments are being run without valid trade licenses in all 18 GHMC circles. However the GHMC has only four food safety officers (Food Inspectors) working in its limits to monitor these establishments.
In the last three years, the GHMC has managed to take action against only 234 eating establishments by just penalising them with meager amounts. The total penalties collected since 2010 is Rs 23,400 only.
Lack of regular monitoring and surprise raids is encouraging a majority of medium and small hotels, restaurants in the city to serve adulterated food items, risking the health of the customers.
Dead cockroaches, houseflies and other insects in the food items are a common sight thanks to the unhygienic conditions maintained at the eateries.
Speaking to the Express, GHMC officials said that the main role of food safety officers is to frequently inspect all the food establishments for licenses, manufacturing, handling, selling of an food article within the areas under their purview.
The food inspectors should also procure food samples and send it for analysis if necessary. Thet should ensure that the sample of food is being manufactured, stocked and sold in accordance to the provisions being by the regulations set by the government.
The officials concerned should also investigate into complaints received from the consumers. The GHMC is finding it tough to identify and address the safety hazards in various eating establishments due to lack of staff.
In 2010, about 45 cases were booked and a penalty of `4,500 was collected. As many as 54 cases were registered in 2011 and a fine of `5,400 was charged and in 2012, the food inspectors registered 135 cases with a penalty of `13,500. There is no data of cases of available for this current year.
The GHMC officials say that each circle should have at least one food inspector to check the quality of food and maintenance in the hotels.
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