1,950 kg of counterfeit pheni seized in Hyderabad ahead of Dasara, Diwali

Enforcement teams of the Telangana Standards Authority for Food and Essential Drugs (TG SAFE) conducted inspections of units manufacturing and selling pheni, khara and other festive food products in Hyderabad on Thursday (October 9, 2026) | Photo credit: BY ARRANGEMENT

Ahead of Dasara and Diwali, the Telangana Standards Authority of Food and Essential Drugs (TG SAFE) has launched a special enforcement drive against manufacturers and retailers of pheni, khara and other festive food products in Hyderabad. The teams found several hygiene and permit violations.

As part of the drive, 12 inspection teams comprising food safety officers and police officers conducted inspections at 12 manufacturing and retail establishments across Hyderabad on Thursday, October 8, 2026. The inspections covered units in Attapur, Jiyaguda, Charminar, Begum Bazar, Moosarambagh and Badangpet.

As part of the enforcement action, 12 teams comprising food safety officials and police personnel inspected 12 manufacturing and retail establishments across Hyderabad on Thursday (October 8, 2026) | Photo credit: Special arrangement

TG SAFE officials seized 1,950 kg of pheni worth ₹2,30,000 due to labeling violations and suspected quality issues. A total of 12 samples were taken for testing when counterfeiting was suspected.

Violation

Officials found several violations, including establishments operating with retail category licenses instead of manufacturing licenses, unsanitary premises, improper food storage and inadequate personal hygiene by food handlers. Food handlers were found in several units wearing half-sleeved clothing and no hairnets. Spitting stains of gutka and pan masala were also found in several establishments.

Teams also found food stored directly on floors without proper covering, failure to maintain pest control records and health records of food handlers, house fly infestations and other hygiene deficiencies. Food contaminated with foreign substances, including packets of gutka and pan masala, were discarded on the spot.

Anjani Foods and Peni Works in Bharath Nagar, Jiyaguda, was ordered to stop business operations after officials found that it was operating without an FSSAI license and under unsanitary conditions. Show-cause notices are also to be issued to six establishments, with further penalty measures proposed.

TG SAFE also suspended the FSSAI licenses of five companies and ordered them to cease operations immediately in the interest of public health.

Published – 8 Oct 2026 18:11 IST