Telangana Officials Flag Health Violations At Popular Pizza Chains

Hyderabad:

A comprehensive inspection conducted by the Telangana Food Safety Department has revealed alarming hygiene and regulatory violations at numerous pizza establishments, including major chains such as Pizza Hut and Domino's.

The extensive audit, carried out by the Food Safety Task Force, examined 55 outlets across the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation area and surrounding districts, uncovering widespread non-compliance issues.

A substantial number of the inspected establishments were found violating food safety regulations, with both international brands and local pizzerias failing to meet required standards.

The inspection revealed multiple serious infractions among major pizza chains.

Among the 18 Pizza Hut locations evaluated, eight demonstrated significant violations. Officials noted jurisdictional mismatches in licensing and improper storage practices where vegetarian and non-vegetarian items were stored together, creating cross-contamination risks.

Additional problems identified included inadequate cleaning of equipment, missing maintenance logs, improper freezer temperature monitoring, and failure to publicly display operating licenses.

In certain districts, staff medical certifications appeared to have been issued without proper health examinations.

Domino's outlets also faced scrutiny during the inspection.

Ten out of 16 Domino's locations were cited for violations. Common infractions included failure to display valid licenses, with one Nizamabad outlet operating with an expired license. Inspectors also discovered overdue pest control maintenance and food handlers working without appropriate protective gear like gloves or masks.

At the Mahbubnagar location, inspectors found no proper separation between vegetarian and non-vegetarian food items, while staff lacked required medical documentation and weren't using gloves.

Local independent pizzerias demonstrated similar compliance issues during the inspection. Six out of 21 local establishments were flagged for violations, including Pizza Paradise in Hyderabad.

At Pizza Paradise, officials discovered degraded cooking oil, rusted ovens, food items without proper labeling, and cooking areas without protective insect screens, creating vulnerability to pest infestations.

Pizza Korner in Medak was found with exposed vegetables on work surfaces and no documentation for pest management or employee health checks.

In immediate response to these findings, the Food Safety Department disposed of unsafe food materials on-site. They have issued directives to all businesses to immediately address violations and comply with safety regulations. Food samples were collected for laboratory analysis.