H-FAST's 100-Day Activity Report: 121 Tonnes of Fake Food and 185 Cases

The Hyderabad Food Adulteration Surveillance Team (H-FAST), operating under the Hyderabad Commissionerate, has displayed an impressive performance in ensuring food safety across the city within the first 100 days of its inception. During this period, the team initiated 185 legal proceedings and seized 121.87 tonnes of unsafe and adulterated food. These operations reveal an intensified battle against widespread food adulteration in the city and a zero-tolerance policy against elements threatening public health. The special squad conducts regular raids to dismantle nefarious structures in the food production and sales network, coordinating with the Hyderabad City Police, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), and Food Safety and Veterinary departments.

Analysis and data indicate that the highest number of cases was recorded in the Rajendranagar zone, followed by Golconda with 55 incidents, while Secunderabad, Charminar, Shamshabad, Jubilee Hills, and Khairatabad also saw significant violations. The list of seized items highlights the severity of the threat to public health; this includes over 27 tonnes of fake ginger-garlic paste, more than 25 tonnes of chemically ripened fruit, and 60 tonnes of stale chicken meat. Additionally, products such as stale pickles, low-quality meat, chemical-laced creams, fake ghee, and unhygienic fried chicken were among those collected.

According to police officials, 247 files regarding detected violations were forwarded to GHMC Food Safety Officers for administrative action, with some operations initiated based on complaints from citizens. The inspections were not limited to restaurants and establishments; they covered a wide range, including pan manufacturing units, bakeries, fast-food outlets, spice production plants, water packaging factories, hostels, and butcher shops. These inspections aimed to identify whether food operators lacked legal licenses or violated hygiene standards, and the results were forwarded to the relevant authorities.

H-FAST draws attention not only with punitive measures but also with preventive activities, organizing awareness meetings with food business operators to educate them on obtaining legal FSSAI licenses and adhering to hygiene rules. Operators were instructed to adopt the "First In, First Out" (FIFO) system for stock management and to avoid reusing frying oil, aiming for systematic improvements. These training and inspection processes are considered a strategic step to ensure reliability from the beginning to the end of the supply chain.

Hyderabad Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar appreciated the team's performance, stating that H-FAST has gained the public's trust and receives over 15 complaints daily. Emphasizing that food adulteration is a serious threat to public health, the Commissioner warned that repeat offenders could face strict measures under the Preventive Detention (PD) Act. Citizens were urged to report suspicious situations using the 100 number or the H-FAST WhatsApp helpline, and they were invited to societal cooperation with the assurance that whistleblowers' identities would be kept confidential.