Hyderabad food scare: What GHMC found in at Pista House outlets inspections

Hyderabad: The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) Food Safety Wing conducted inspections on the popular chain Pista House restaurants following allegations of violating basic hygiene norms during surprise inspections.  

The raids, ordered by the GHMC Commissioner following many public complaints, have so far covered 25 Pista House outlets, with food samples collected from 23 establishments for laboratory testing under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.  

Inspectors documented alarming conditions across many outlets. Kitchen areas showed persistent problems, including wet, slippery floors with patchy repairs and unhygienic washing zones with stagnant water. Basic sanitation measures were neglected, with uncovered dustbins observed and drainage systems lacking proper contaminant traps.  

Structural maintenance emerged as another major concern, with kitchens featuring broken wall tiles and greasy, uncleaned chimneys. The absence of insect-proof meshes on openings led to visible housefly infestations in food preparation areas, compounding hygiene risks.  

“Storage facilities fared no better, with inspectors finding food items improperly stored on floors instead of proper shelving. Many establishments mixed food and non-food articles in storage, while refrigeration units showed inadequate cleaning and missing temperature logs. Poor lighting conditions in storage areas further violated safety protocols,” said a statement released by GHMC.