Cyberabad civic body to introduce hygiene rating system for restaurants
A restaurant inspection report no longer ends with a list of violations. In Hyderabad, it now comes with a score. Over the past few weeks
A restaurant inspection report no longer ends with a list of violations. In Hyderabad, it now comes with a score. Over the past few weeks, food safety teams of Cyberabad Municipal Corporation (CMC) have been carrying out a series of inspections at restaurants, cafes and food establishments across its jurisdiction. But unlike conventional food safety drives, officials have introduced a rating-based system that seeks to quantify hygiene standards and publicly disclose how establishments fare. The change means eateries are being judged not merely on whether violations exist, but on how well they comply with food safety norms.
“We wanted to do something different. Just as there is a Michelin star rating for taste, we want to create a hygiene rating. That is the idea,” said G. Srijana, Commissioner, Cyberabad Municipal Corporation (CMC). She added that the civic body is in the process of developing standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the initiative and eventually hopes to evolve it into a system where establishments can proudly display their hygiene credentials. Scoring parameters During inspections, officials assess multiple parameters, including cleanliness of kitchens and dining areas, food storage practices, pest control measures, waste management, labelling, employee hygiene and the availability of potable water.
The points obtained are converted into a percentage score. Establishments scoring more than 90% are categorised as ‘Good’. Those securing between 50% and 90% are issued improvement notices, while those scoring below 50% receive show-cause notices. Hygiene index Unlike conventional inspections, the exercise is not complaint-driven or aimed primarily at penalising businesses. “This is indexing your hygiene. It is not based on complaints or anything negative,” Ms. Srijana said. She said the civic body is not immediately penalising establishments with reasonably satisfactory scores. Instead, officials are clearly pointing out shortcomings and allowing owners time to address them before another inspection.
“We tell them where they are going wrong. If they improve, next time we will publish that they have improved,” she said. Why ratings matter? The ratings are also intended to empower consumers. “It is also a power for the public. They can choose by the rating,” Ms. Srijana said. Inspections conducted in recent weeks have uncovered pest infestation, improper food storage, absence of potable water certificates, open dustbins near food materials and poor maintenance of kitchens and dining areas.
The BriefWire