‘H-FAST’ gets down to business

Cracks down on illegal food units

Metro India News | Hyderabad 

Authorities in Hyderabad, in coordination with the newly formed Hyderabad Food Adulteration Surveillance Team (H-FAST), have intensified their crackdown on food adulteration, arresting over 60 people in March alone.

Officials said 61 cases were registered and 64 individuals arrested, with 14,685 kg and 400 litres of adulterated food products seized by March 30. The crackdown exposed widespread contamination across commonly consumed items such as ginger-garlic paste, ice cream, paneer and other dairy products, tea powder, meat, curd, snacks, ghee, and edible oils. Many units were found using substandard raw materials and unsafe additives.

H-FAST was set up under the leadership of Hyderabad Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar in coordination with Food Safety Officers to strengthen enforcement against food adulteration. The team, comprising 28 personnel, focuses on surveillance, detection, and prosecution of offenders. Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has also announced plans to establish a dedicated system to curb food adulteration, reinforcing the state’s commitment to public health.

Sajjanar described food adulteration as a “silent and deadly attack” on households, warning that strict action would be taken against offenders. Authorities reiterated a zero-tolerance approach toward those endangering lives for profit.

During raids, officials uncovered multiple units operating in highly unhygienic conditions. In Kattedan, a ginger-garlic paste manufacturing unit was found using inferior materials and unsafe practices, supplying products to restaurants and retail outlets. Similar violations were reported in Mailardevpally, where snacks and bakery items, including Osmania biscuits, were prepared using harmful chemicals without adhering to safety standards.

In Musheerabad, a large-scale ice cream manufacturing unit was found producing substandard products under misleading quality claims. In another case in Moosapet, authorities seized rotten chicken stored in unhygienic conditions and meant for supply to local vendors.

Further operations led to the detection of illegal coconut powder, pickle, and bakery manufacturing units. Officials said the drive will continue with intensified inspections and coordination among agencies to ensure food safety and protect public health.