NRAI establish task force to enforce FSSAI standards in Hyderabad restaurants

HYDERABAD: A special NRAI Food Safety Task Force was established by the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) Hyderabad Chapter in response to multiple infractions that the food safety department had discovered in well-known restaurants throughout Hyderabad.

There are fifteen members of this taskforce, which is led by NRAI Hyderabad Chapter head Sampath Tummala. The State Food Safety Commissioner, R. V. Karnan, was briefed on Thursday's meeting between the members of the NRAI Food Safety Taskforce and the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) about the Taskforce's objective to work with the FSSAI body and GHMC to improve food and hygiene standards in the city.

During the meeting, Karnan suggested adding hygiene ratings to restaurants and publicising them to increase customer awareness. Both parties have agreed to conduct a significant event in the coming months to raise awareness of the essential processes.

Sampath Tummala, head of the NRAI Hyderabad chapter, said, "As a responsible body, we have formed this special task force, which will take all necessary measures on a priority basis to increase awareness and knowledge of all mandatory food safety practices among all F&B operators. To boost client confidence, we decided to hold additional training sessions. The day-long courses, which will be held zone-wise, will focus on reaffirming the FSSAI's standards; hygiene checks; and personal grooming of the staff handling the food.”

NRAI Food Safety Taskforce to take below actions

• Organising multiple FSSAI awareness workshops/trainings to educate all Restaurant Members across the city. The first training was organised today.
• Planning a big food safety week in association with FSSAI, Government and GHMC in the next few weeks
• Hygiene audit program for Restaurants to have third-party auditors who can keep tabs on the quality as providing safe food is not only our business but also our responsibility to the society.
• The taskforce has put together a checklist of all compliance requirements from F&B operators to comply with all Food Safety Regulations as per Food Safety and Standards Regulations, 2011 & Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
• This checklist has been shared with all Fraternity Members to ensure that they are aware of all compliances to adhere to.
• Develop a hygiene rating system for restaurants.
• Planning multiple medical camps to provide food handler certificates to staff of Restaurant Members.

NRAI Food Safety Taskforce 2024-25 members

• Sampath Tummala - The Spicy Venue (Chapter Head, NRAI – Hyderabad)
• Sandeep Balasubramaniam - Hashi (Co-Chapter Head, NRAI – Hyderabad)
• Shankar Krishnamurthy - Fusion 9 (Member, Managing Committee, NRAI – India)
• Kavitha Mantha - Sage Farm Café (Member, Managing Committee, NRAI – India)
• Chaitanya Muppala - Almond House & Manam Chocolate
• Faisal Tayabali - Euphoria Bakers
• Mehnaz Hussain - Labonel Fine Baking
• Sachin Gangapuram - Olive Bar & Bistro
• Sumit Kohli - Ikka Dukka
• Rajasubbaiah - Pondy Parottas
• Rohini Rao - Sip of Sky
• Sarita Sarkar - Sarkar's Kitchen & Bagh Beans
• Vikram Mehta - Grand Trunk Road
• Yash Trivedi - Lord of the drinks
• Kiran KLV - United Kitchens of India
• Ketan Agarwal - Fat Pigeon/Chubby Cho/ Peanuts Bar
• Lalith Pothuri - Pappannam
• Ujwal Kedia - Masala Maarg/ The Dragon's Gate/ Sto Piató
• M V Ramana – Naan’s Pure Veg
• Shaaz Mehmood (Founder, NRAI – Hyderabad Chapter)