With lakhs relying on street food in Hyderabad, Food Safety dept. focusing on training vendors

Key Highlights

• “As a result, many vendors handling cooked food consumed daily by large sections of the public continue to operate beyond the formal ambit of the Food Safety Department,” she said.
• Speaking to The Hindu, the Commissioner acknowledged that the absence of licences or registrations keeps these vendors largely outside routine regulatory supervision.
• She said this limits the department’s ability to carry out inspections or initiate legal action to enforce food safety standards, despite the public health implications.
• Given these limitations, the department has adopted a strategy that prioritises training and awareness over strict enforcement for street vendors.
• Officials are focusing on educating vendors about basic food safety norms, hygiene practices and proper food handling methods while also creating awareness about the need for registration under the Food Safety and Standards Act.