Food safety officials in Hyderabad inspected 12 pheni manufacturing units on Thursday after complaints of violations, finding unhygienic conditions, poor food-handling practices, products stored on floors and some units operating without valid FSSAI licences.
The inspections were carried out by the TG SAFE Food Wing and Enforcement officials under the CURE jurisdiction. The action focused on pheni manufacturing units in the city and followed complaints received by the authorities about food safety conditions.
According to the inspection findings reported by Telangana Today, several units were operating in conditions that did not meet basic hygiene expectations. Workers preparing pheni were allegedly found without head caps and gloves, while some were wearing dirty clothes.
Officials also observed workers handling food while sweating heavily. The findings raise concerns about the conditions in which the traditional food product was being prepared and handled before reaching consumers.
The inspection teams found raw materials and prepared pheni placed directly on the floor inside some units. Keeping food ingredients and finished products on floors can expose them to contamination and reflects weaknesses in basic storage and handling practices.
Some of the units inspected were reportedly manufacturing food products without valid licences issued by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. Officials also found that mandatory licences and certificates were not prominently displayed at certain premises.
The inspections underline the role of food safety enforcement in monitoring small and informal manufacturing establishments operating within the city. Such units are part of Hyderabad’s food and urban livelihood network, but their operations still require compliance with licensing and hygiene requirements intended to protect consumers.
The reported violations covered both operational practices and regulatory compliance. The absence of protective clothing among workers, dirty clothing, direct floor storage and inadequate display of mandatory documents were identified during the inspections. The source report did not specify the names of the units, the quantities of pheni seized, or the penalties or closure action, if any, taken against them.
The action also highlights the importance of regular inspections in food manufacturing clusters and small production premises, where enforcement agencies must check both the physical conditions of production and the validity of operating licences. Complaints provided the immediate trigger for Thursday’s inspections, while the findings will determine the next steps by the food safety authorities.
The TG SAFE Food Wing and Enforcement officials are expected to proceed according to the applicable food safety and licensing requirements. Further action, including details of notices, penalties or compliance directions, was not specified in the supplied report.
