Telangana’s food safety authority has seized 1,950 kg of pheni worth ₹2.30 lakh and suspended the FSSAI licences of five manufacturing units after inspecting 12 pheni, khara and related food establishments across Hyderabad’s Core Urban Region (CURE). The action followed findings including labelling violations, suspected quality concerns, unhygienic production areas and inadequate food storage.
The Telangana Standards Authority for Food and Essential Drugs (TG SAFE) said its officers collected 12 food samples for laboratory testing to check for possible adulteration. The inspections also found units operating with retail-category licences despite carrying out manufacturing activities, poor personal hygiene among food handlers, housefly infestation and missing mandatory health and pest-control records.
Officials reported that some food articles had been contaminated by extraneous matter, including gutka and pan masala packets, and were discarded at the premises. Food products were also found stored directly on floors without adequate covering. Inspectors noted spitting stains linked to gutka or pan masala in some manufacturing areas, as well as repeated use of oil, dalda and vanaspati for frying at one unit.
Anjani Foods and Peni Works at Bharathnagar, Jiyaguda, was ordered to stop operations after officials found it functioning without an FSSAI licence and under unhygienic conditions. TG SAFE also directed five establishments whose licences were suspended to stop operations immediately, citing public-health concerns.
The authority said show-cause notices would be issued to six establishments: JP Foods at Sri Krishnanagar in Shivrampally, Attapur; Jaipur Jodpur Pheniwala at Madhuban Colony; Ram Niwas Puri Sweet Pheniwala at Mahbubgunj; GM Mixtures at Kolsawadi, Begum Bazaar; Bhagirath Foods at Imampur, Jiyaguda; and Balaji Pheni Udyog at Shalivahananagar, Moosarambagh.
The inspection findings varied across the establishments. Sri Ganesh Khara and Feni in Bharat Nagar Colony, Attapur, was cited for food exposed to dust and flies, poor personal hygiene, a washroom close to the manufacturing area, greasy and slippery surfaces, and inadequate storage and documentation. At JP Foods in Imampura, Jiyaguda, officials reported housefly infestation, poor hygiene, insufficient records and chewing and spitting of gutka or pan masala on the premises.
Prem Puri Sweet Phani Shop in Petlaburj, Charminar, was found to have an improper licence category along with hygiene and documentation violations. Mahaveer Namkeen in Shanthinagar Colony, Nadergul, was cited for dirty and greasy surfaces, soot and oil deposits, pests including lizards, poor personal hygiene and incomplete records.
At GM Mixture in Attapur, inspectors reported extremely unhygienic premises, dirty walls and ceilings, open drains, inadequate lighting, improper storage and failure to maintain mandatory records. The next steps include laboratory testing of the collected samples and action under the food-safety regulations based on the inspection findings and test results.
