Telangana’s food safety authorities have flagged extensive lapses at pizza outlets across the state after a wide-ranging inspection drive covering the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) area and surrounding districts. Of 55 establishments checked, violations were reported at multiple locations operated by national chains and local pizzerias, prompting on-the-spot seizure of unsafe food and mandatory corrective directions to operators.

The sweep at a glance

  • Total outlets inspected: 55
  • Chains covered: 18 Pizza Hut, 16 Domino’s
  • Local and other outlets: 21 pizzerias and bakeries
  • Key actions: Unsafe items discarded, samples collected for testing, instructions issued to rectify violations

What inspectors found

Inspectors documented a recurring pattern of non-compliance that cuts across licensing, hygiene practices, and food handling standards: - Licensing lapses: expired licences, failure to display licences, and jurisdiction mismatches in GHMC limits - Food safety risks: vegetarian and non-vegetarian items stored together, freezer temperatures not maintained, uncovered vegetables on workstations - Hygiene and sanitation: unclean machinery, rusty ovens, dustbins without lids, open cooking areas lacking insect-proof barriers - Documentation gaps: missing cleaning logs, incomplete calibration records, and absent pest-control updates - Staff practices: food handlers not using gloves or masks, and medical certificates issued without proper examination - Labelling and quality: unlabelled food items such as paneer and breads, overused oil seized and discarded, and sauce bottles without “use by” dates

Chain-wise snapshots

  • Pizza Hut (18 outlets inspected; violations at 8):
  • GHMC area: licence/jurisdiction mismatches and calibration lapses
  • Hanumakonda (Kazipet): unclean equipment
  • Warangal: medical certificates reportedly issued without proper examination
  • Nizamabad: licence not displayed; freezer temperature not maintained; cleaning log absent

  • Nalgonda: licence not displayed; dustbins without lids; missing “use by” dates on sauce bottles

  • Domino’s (16 outlets inspected; violations at 10):

  • GHMC area: multiple outlets not displaying licences
  • Nizamabad: expired licence; overdue pest control; gloves/masks not used; calibration records missing; expired licence displayed; no medical records
  • Hanumakonda (Subedari): machinery not cleaned; records absent; pest control not updated; missing medical records for new staff
  • Warangal: staff not wearing gloves/masks; medical certificates issued without examination

  • Mahabubnagar: no segregation of vegetarian and non-vegetarian items; medical records absent; handlers not wearing gloves

  • Local outlets (21 inspected; violations at 6):

  • Hyderabad (Pizza Paradise, Master V Bakers): licence not displayed; no medical certificates; overused oil; unlabelled paneer/bread/chips; rusty ovens; open cooking area without insect-proof mesh
  • Medak (Pizza Korner): uncovered vegetables; overused oil seized and discarded; no pest control or medical records
  • Kokapet/Narsingi (La Pinoz Pizza): non-compliance with prescribed machinery cleaning schedules

Where violations occurred

The inspection covered a cross-section of urban and semi-urban sites, including: - GHMC limits (Hyderabad and surrounding areas) - Hanumakonda (Kazipet, Subedari) - Warangal - Nizamabad - Nalgonda - Mahabubnagar - Medak - Kokapet/Narsingi

Immediate enforcement and next steps

Authorities discarded unsafe food items during the visits and lifted samples for laboratory testing. Food Business Operators (FBOs) have been directed to address gaps without delay, with further action expected based on test results and follow-up compliance checks. Routine record-keeping, temperature monitoring, and pest-control updates are likely to be focal points in subsequent inspections.

Implications for consumers and businesses

For consumers: - Look for a valid and visibly displayed food licence at the outlet - Notice basic hygiene cues: clean work surfaces, use of gloves/masks by handlers, and covered bins - Avoid establishments where cooked and raw, or vegetarian and non-vegetarian items appear to be stored together - Report concerns to food safety authorities when you observe persistent lapses

For operators: - Keep licences current and correctly mapped to the outlet’s jurisdiction, and display them prominently - Maintain temperature logs, cleaning schedules, and calibration records - Ensure staff training on hygiene protocols, including protective gear and segregation of food categories - Update pest-control and medical certifications regularly and retain supporting documentation on site

Why it matters

Food-safety compliance is central to public health, particularly in dense urban areas where quick-service restaurants serve large volumes daily. The issues cited—ranging from temperature control and cross-contamination to expired licences and missing medical checks—can increase the risk of foodborne illness and erode consumer confidence. Statewide checks help close compliance gaps, set clear expectations for operators, and build a safer dining ecosystem for customers across Hyderabad and Telangana.