A series of surprise inspections by food safety officials in the Cyberabad Municipal Corporation (CMC) has uncovered alarming hygiene violations at various food establishments in Hyderabad and raised serious concerns about food safety standards in some of the city’s busiest commercial centres.
The inspections of a popular food court near AMB Mall in Madhapur, a supermarket in Tellapur and a restaurant in Madhapur revealed everything from rat infestations and spoiled food to expired products and poor sanitation practices.
Rat Infestation Leads to Suspension of Food Court License
The most serious violations were found at Zayaka Food Court near AMB Mall, where officials found evidence of a widespread rodent infestation. The inspection revealed rat burrows in the raw material and packaging storage areas, rat droppings in raw material and packaging storage areas, and visible damage to food packaging caused by rodents. Such discoveries immediately raised fears of contamination and public health dangers.
Stale chicken biryani, spoiled vegetables in freezers and improperly segregated food items were found in the freezer. Egg mayonnaise was also stored at an inappropriate temperature level, potentially leading to bacterial contamination. The inspection team also found that food was stored in a non-functional freezer and mandatory medical fitness certificates for food handlers and pest control records were not available.
🍽️ Food Safety Inspection Drive | 3/3
— Cyberabad Municipal Corporation (@CMC_Offcl) June 24, 2026
Restaurant: Zayaka Food Court
📍 Near AMB Mall
📅 24.06.2026
✅ Good Practice
• Food handlers using hairnets
⚠️ Major Observations
• Food stored in a non-functional freezer
• Rat infestation, rat burrows, and rodent damage to food… pic.twitter.com/qGZZ8lY4X4
Because of the serious violations, authorities suspended the establishment’s FSSAI license and ordered the Food Business Operator (FBO) to immediately halt operations. The food court will be closed until all violations are rectified and a fresh inspection confirms compliance with food safety regulations. The hygiene assessment score for the establishment was a shocking 25 out of 100, highlighting the extent of the sanitation failures.
Expired Products and Rotten Fruits Found at Supermarket
In another inspection at Vijetha Supermarkets Private Limited in Tellapur, officials found food safety issues in packaged and fresh food products. The inspection team found rotten fruits, low-quality peanuts, expired food items, and even a bulged Frooti bottle, which is a common sign of spoilage or contamination.
Dead insects were found on food racks, and the absence of fly traps raised additional questions about pest control measures in the facilities. Cleaning schedules were also not being followed properly, officials said. Most of the products did not clearly show manufacturing and expiry dates, and it was difficult for the consumers to determine whether or not product was fresh.
Dust-covered packaging and leaking oil packets were also observed during the inspection. There were also no mandatory medical fitness records for food handlers. Authorities immediately removed and discarded expired food from the shelves. Samples of peanuts were collected and sent for laboratory analysis to ensure the food quality standards.
An improvement notice has been recommended to management to strengthen cleaning procedures, inventory rotation and overall hygiene management.
Hygiene Concerns Surface at Popular Eatery
Another inspection at Protein Chef, a restaurant in Madhapur, revealed several sanitation and food handling lapses.
Officials found bad cleaning practices, bad drain work and filthy freezer conditions. Stale and unwrapped food items were found to be stored together, raising the possibility of cross-contamination. The inspection also showed that improper thawing of frozen food products could result in the bacterial growth being dramatically higher if not handled correctly.
Other concerns included open dustbins close to cooking locations, failure to follow hot water sanitation procedures and the lack of medical fitness certificates for staff handling food. Food samples were collected from the restaurant and sent for laboratory testing. Although the violations were less severe than those at the food court, officials still recommended an improvement notice.
The eatery received a hygiene assessment score of 66 out of 100.
Growing Focus on Food Safety
The inspections are part of a growing campaign by food safety authorities to enhance hygiene standards and protect consumers from foodborne illnesses. Retail food courts, supermarkets and food businesses have to comply with FSSAI standards for proper storage, sanitation, pest control and employee health records.
As Hyderabad’s food industry grows in size, these inspections are a reminder that food safety can’t be compromised. Where food providers are failing to meet such standards the government will have to take action against them (license suspension, penalties and closure) and are in the process of making sure that the inspections are done.
