The Telangana food safety department has started inspecting airline food suppliers after previously raiding hotels, restaurants, hostels, and college canteens. Recently, officials raided Instahot Foods, a supplier for IndiGo at IDA Patancheru. During the inspection, they found live cockroaches in the cooking area and several hygiene violations.
The food safety officers discovered cockroach infestations in the cooking and grinding areas. They also found clogged drains and improper disposal of food waste. Additionally, some expired food items, such as 1.25 kg of Kasturi Methi, 500 gm of mustard seeds, and 1 kg of Rai Mota, were discarded. Officials seized 1.5 kg of Nutmeg that lacked proper labeling. Some food items were stored under a leaking air conditioner, increasing the risk of contamination.
Further, vegetables like tomatoes were found to be spoiled. The team also noted that water analysis was being conducted in a non-NABL-certified laboratory, and there were no records of packaging material testing.
In another raid, officials inspected Asati Rajkumar Roller Flour Mills Pvt Ltd at IDA Patancheru. They found rodent and bird infestations, including pigeons and sparrows, along with their droppings. The walls and ceilings were in poor condition, with patches, flakes, and cobwebs. The storage area for cleaned wheat before milling was unhygienic, also covered in cobwebs.
The facility failed to display its FSSAI license prominently. Food and non-food items were stored together, and workers did not follow proper hygiene practices. Many food handlers were not wearing aprons or hair caps. The grain washing section was found to be very unclean and emitted a foul smell.
Officials also discovered that pest control records, water analysis reports, employee health records, FoSTaC certificates, and records of food and packaging material testing were missing.
On February 11, the food safety department also conducted raids on loose milk collection and distribution centers in the eastern part of Hyderabad. Two teams inspected nine milk collection and distribution centers in areas such as Karmanghat, Lingojiguda, LB Nagar, and Hayathnagar.
To ensure quality, two Food Safety on Wheels (FSW) vehicles equipped with milk-o-screen devices and lab technicians were deployed. These teams conducted on-the-spot testing of loose milk samples to check for any possible adulteration or contamination.
Update From Indigo (14th Feb 2025)
We are cognisant of the investigation involving an in-flight food supplier. Upon receiving this information, we immediately discontinued the supply of products that were being sourced from them. We want to emphasize our unwavering commitment to maintaining the highest standards of food and beverage service on board.
