With the number of complaints against fast food restaurants on the rise, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has decided to take strict action against such establishments through special drives. Several fast food restaurants have been operating for years in the city’s nooks and crannies.
However, a few establishments in student-heavy areas such as Ameerpet, Dilsukhnagar, Secunderabad, Kukatpally, and HiTec City are allegedly adding food coloring and other additives for flavor in items such as fried rice, noodles, Manchurian, and rolls. These are said to improve the flavor of the dish, causing more customers to return for another bite.
They do however cause digestive issues and acidity in consumers, as well as exacerbating blood pressure and inflammation issues.
Following numerous complaints about such issues, the GHMC formed special teams to inspect the quality of food served, the hygiene of the kitchen, and the types of food additives used to enhance flavor. According to officials, the collected samples will be sent to laboratories for further examination.
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Food inspector Sudhershan Reddy stated that because many fast food outlets operate in the evening hours, as opposed to bakeries, restaurants, and tiffin centers, food inspectors have been unable to crack down on such establishments.
As per food safety officials, a group of 22 food inspectors would inspect restaurants, food stalls, supermarkets, and other similar establishments on a daily basis. They would inspect the food, water, hygiene, kitchen, drainage, licenses, and medical fitness certificates of the servers, among other things.
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Food samples will be classified as unsafe, substandard, or misbranded. In the event that the food sample is deemed unsafe, criminal charges will be filed and the establishment owners will be imprisoned. A fine of up to Rs 5 lakh will be levied for substandard and misbranded food.
