Hyderabad: Eateries warned over safety display

HYDERABAD: The Food Safety Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) has set a deadline of October 15 for all the registered hotels across India to display the food safety measures prescribed under the guidelines. Failing to follow the guidelines will result in the cancellation of licences, warned FSSAI. Six months after issuing the guidelines, FSSAI noted that owners were not complying with the conditions set by it.

Food Safety Display Boards are informative boards which primarily display food safety and hygiene practices to be followed by FBO in their establishment. The FSDBs are colour coded for different kind of food businesses for ease of recognition by the consumers like purple for restaurant, green for fruit and vegetable retail, red for meat retail, blue for milk retail, brown for liquor retail, yellow for storage among others.

Under section III of the Food Safety Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) 2018, restaurants who failed to comply were sent a warning letter. The restaurants are required to display a food safety display board all the times at a prominent place in their premises to obtain licenses and registrations. 
The Food Safety and Hygiene Requirements mandates eateries to inform the consumers, the food handlers and the regulatory staff about these important requirements, therefore getting 360 degree assurance on food safety.

According to the latest order, “Upon non-compliance beyond October 15, 2018, the establishments will attract strict action as per provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.” As per the rules, display board can be printed on A3 size paper, stuck on cardboard and displayed at prominent places like entrance, reception or billing area.