Rat faeces, expired products uncovered at a cake shop in Hyderabad’s Alwal

Telangana food safety task force uncovers severe hygiene violations at cake shops in Alwal and Secunderabad.

The task force teams of Telangana’s Commissioner of Food Safety conducted inspections at various cake shops in Alwal and Secunderabad on Friday (January 3, 2025) uncovering numerous hygiene violations.

At Monginis Cake Shop, severe lapses in cleanliness and storage were observed. Packing material and other products were improperly stored on the ground and on stairways. The moulds used for cake preparation were in a highly unhygienic state, and rat faeces were discovered in multiple storage areas. Additionally, live cockroach infestations were observed throughout the manufacturing unit.

A leaking air conditioner in the cold room posed a contamination risk to food products stored in trays, while several expired items, including pineapple and vanilla flavors, were found on the premises, according to a press release issued by the food safety officials.

The walls and ceilings were patchy, with flaking particles, and refrigerators were poorly maintained, littered with food waste. Food articles also were stored in unhygienic plastic drums, and the shop lacked licenses for seven refrigeratedvehicles used for transportation, as per the press release.

At Vacs Pastries, it was found that alcohol (rum) was being used in the preparation of plum cakes without proper Excise Department permissions, and this use was not disclosed on product labels. The moulds for cake preparation were in unhygienic condition, and a bulk preparation of dry fruit and jam pulp for cakes was stored in plastic drums.

“The food business operator admitted that the mixture could be used for up to six months but failed to provide details on the date of preparation or best-before dates,” as per the press release. Food and non-food items, including chemicals, semi-prepared vegetarian and non-vegetarian items, were stored together, leading to contamination risks. Uncovered and unlabeled food items were found in refrigerators, and temperature records were not maintained.