Hyderabad hotels store food, freeze meat

Hyderabad: According to Dr S. Ramadhakrishna, stored food can lead to two types of health issues, one immediate (mostly within 24 hours) and another in the long run, when it takes a toll on the heart and skin.

Stored food contains more bacteria, there are pre-formed toxins and when the food is heated, the toxins melt into the food, which may cause food poisoning.

In the long run, constant consumption of outside food can lead to arthritis, heart diseases and cancer as well, he said. Bacterial infections also transmit through food.

One should be careful while consuming stored meat, seafood, mushrooms, paneer and milk products.

Members of the city hotel association meanwhile state that there is nothing questionable in storing food, though not for longer periods.

“We store cooked food at home too, how does it become unsafe if done in a hotel? Reputed hotels are equipped with better technology, the use of blast chillers for storage is now a common feature in most kitchens.

Items like mayonnaise or sauce, that have to be used repeatedly, cannot be prepared just before service. They have to be stored for prolonged periods in appropriate chillers,” said a source.

GHMC officials say that they routinely come across unhygienic kitchens and food items which are unfit for consumption.

GHMC does not allow the freezing of food for even a few hours. “We are very particular about hygienic kitchens. No hotel is allowed to store food, especially cooked food,” said an official from the GHMC’s health and sanitation wing.