Hygiene violations uncovered at popular mandi restaurants in Khairatabad area of Hyderabad

Telangana's food safety task force uncovers serious hygiene violations at popular Mandi restaurants in Hyderabad.

The task force teams of Telangana’s Commissioner of Food Safety conducted inspections at popular Mandi restaurants in the Khairatabad area of Hyderabad, uncovering serious hygiene violations.

At Mandi King Royale, officials found refrigerators in poor condition, with broken shelves and a lack of defrosting, causing water droplets to fall onto uncovered food, posing a risk of contamination. The kitchen and wash area floors were patchy, with food waste littered at several places. Drains were clogged, chimneys were greasy and unclean, and rusty iron knives were being used. Additionally, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food items, including raw and semi-cooked food, were stored together in some refrigerators. Raw meat such as chicken and mutton was dumped in an unhygienic manner, increasing the risk of contamination, according to a release.

At Mandi Town, the inspection revealed that the refrigerator was found to be extremely unhygienic, with spillage of meat waste and blood. The kitchen floor was patchy, with food waste scattered across multiple areas. Officials noted that the kitchen lacked proper drainage for cleaning, and a live cockroach infestation was observed. Synthetic food colours were found and subsequently discarded. The drinking water tank had not been cleaned properly, and dead insects were found inside it. Food articles in the refrigerator were uncovered and unlabelled, while raw meat was stored in an unhygienic manner.

At Mandi 36 Arabian Kitchen, inspectors found patchy flooring and a dark, sooty kitchen ceiling. Chimneys were greasy and dusty, and exhaust systems lacked mesh filters to prevent insect entry. Iron knives were being used in the kitchen, and grilling pans were found to be greasy and unclean. Although food articles in the refrigerator were covered, they were not labelled. Inspectors also discovered spoiled vegetables, including mint leaves, which were discarded. Some food items were stored directly on the ground, with inadequate spacing between storage racks and walls.