A fresh food safety scare has surfaced in Hyderabad after the Flying Squad of the Telangana Food Safety Department conducted a surprise inspection at a cashew repacking agency in Mallapur and found multiple violations. The inspection, carried out as part of the department’s ongoing enforcement against unsafe food practices, has raised concerns over the quality and storage of dry fruits being sold to consumers.
According to food safety officials, a total of 36 kilograms of cashew nuts infested with insects was detected during the raid. The contaminated stock was immediately discarded on the spot to prevent it from entering the consumer market. Officials said the condition of the stock indicated serious lapses in storage, hygiene, and quality control at the repacking unit.
In addition to the infested stock, the department also seized 210 kilograms of cashew nuts, estimated to be worth around ₹1.5 lakh, on suspicion of poor quality. Authorities stated that the seized stock will undergo further examination to determine whether it is fit for consumption and whether it meets food safety standards. Samples from the premises have been collected and sent to the laboratory for detailed analysis.
The inspection is part of Telangana’s intensified food safety checks, with officials increasingly targeting food processing, packaging, and repacking units dealing with everyday consumer products. Dry fruits such as cashews are widely purchased for household use, festive occasions, and retail resale, making quality control especially important.
Food safety officials have advised consumers to be extra cautious while buying packaged or repacked dry fruits. They urged the public to check for proper labeling and packaging before purchasing, and to carefully inspect products for insects, foul smell, discoloration, or unusual appearance before consumption. The department also emphasized that consumers should buy only from licensed and trusted vendors to reduce the risk of unsafe food reaching homes.
Authorities have further appealed to the public to report any suspicious or unsafe food handling practices to the Food Safety Department. Officials said strict action will continue against businesses found compromising public health through poor storage, unhygienic handling, or sale of substandard food products.
This latest inspection in Mallapur has once again highlighted the importance of regular food safety monitoring in Hyderabad and across Telangana. With laboratory reports still awaited, further action against the cashew repacking agency is expected based on the findings.