GHMC to roll out hotel hygiene ratings soon

Hyderabad: Following the recent revelations of unhygienic and unsanitary conditions in eateries across the city, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) will soon roll out a comprehensive hygiene rating system for hotels.

There are nearly 80,000 eateries, both big and small, within GHMC limits. Officials estimate that about 60 percent of these outlets lack quality.

The health department is planning to assess hotels on a scale of 1 to 5 based on cleanliness, food safety, and other essential criteria. Under this rating system, eateries must meet specific standards including cleanliness, food safety, licensing and drinking water quality.

Food safety officials will conduct inspections and verify after hotels comply with standards like cleanliness, toilet hygiene, cook hygiene, food safety licensing, drinking water quality, and waste disposal and submit self-assessment details. Once evaluated and approved, hotels will be permitted to display their official rating.

This initiative follows recent inspections by the Commissioner of Food Safety Task Force and GHMC food safety officials, which uncovered widespread unhygienic issues in eateries across Hyderabad.