Andhra launches statewide crackdown after massive food safety lapses in Vizag

Andhra Pradesh has launched a tough, statewide crackdown on food safety violations after alarming inspection results in Visakhapatnam, where authorities found 44 of 51 restaurants breaching norms across hygiene, storage, and adulteration checks. Civil Supplies Minister Nadendla Manohar warned that strict legal action will follow against hotels, food courts, and beverage outlets that fail to maintain food quality standards, urging diners to stay alert as investigations point to harmful substances allegedly being mixed in some establishments.

A cabinet subcommittee has directed rapid enforcement, tasking officials to intensify surprise inspections and fast-track prosecutions based on documented deficiencies and laboratory evidence. In parallel drives across the state, joint teams from Food Safety and Legal Metrology have been collecting samples, flagging prolonged storage of frozen meats, mouldy spices, and excessive use of artificial colours—issues highlighted during recent multi-location raids in Visakhapatnam. Officials said 42 samples from city eateries have been sent to laboratories, with further criminal action promised once results are in, and repeat offenders warned of potential closures.

The Vizag operation mirrors a broader pattern seen elsewhere in Andhra, where district-level checks have uncovered unhygienic kitchens, pest infestations, and improperly stored food, prompting criminal cases and notices to dozens of outlets while exposing gaps such as delayed testing due to limited local lab capacity.

Earlier special raids have also targeted sweets and bakery items, with inspectors reporting substandard raw materials in popular confections and issuing notices under the Food Safety and Standards Act. Senior food safety officials emphasized that these drives will be periodic and sustained, with zero tolerance for practices that jeopardize public health.

 

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