The meeting organized by Hyderabad Food Adulteration Surveillance Team (H-FAST) in coordination with Hyderabad Kirana Merchants Association was to create awareness about food safety standards and the norms to be followed by the businesses.

On Monday, an act of self-regulation and civic responsibility was exhibited by traders as they voluntarily shut their shops. There are 15,000 shops in Begum Bazaar, comprising kirana, spices, dry fruits, and general merchandise.

The reason for the meeting

The meeting comes at a time when the newly formed Hyderabad Food Adulteration Surveillance Team (H-FAST) has been conducting aggressive raids across the city. Since its inception in March, H-FAST has dismantled several illegal rackets. Earlier, authorities seized 8,300 kg of adulterated coconut powder.

In the raids carried out in March, 129 tonnes of adulterated products were seized. The products range from fake ginger-garlic paste and coconut powder to unhygienic dairy. The police booked 117 cases against the business owners and the merchants who were indulging in this trade.

The crackdown was hailed by the public, but it created a sense of "raid-panic" among local traders.

The session by H-FAST replaced fear with facts, ensuring that honest merchants aren't caught in the crossfire of enforcement.

A Bridge Between H-FAST and Trade

Addressing the sea of traders, Vaibhav Gaikwad, DCP (Task Force), offered a personal perspective. "I come from a kirana merchant family myself," he shared, "I understand your struggles." He clarified that the H-FAST initiative is a "sacred mission" to safeguard public health, not a tool to harass the business community.

He reassured the gathering that no punitive action would be taken without proper verification, though he noted that many violations currently being prosecuted are often the result of a "lack of awareness" regarding synthetic colors and storage chemicals.

6 Pillars of Compliance

The Association and Food Safety and Standards Authority of India officials outlined a clear roadmap for traders to avoid legal trouble and ensure consumer safety:

1) Clear display of FSSAI certificates and selling only the licensed products.

2) Sanitation - Regular pest control and daily cleaning of commercial premises.

3) A strict ban on expired goods and synthetic colouring agents.

4) Use of covered disposal units and proper drainage

5) Adopting proper storage facilities. Proper ventilation is also required in the shops.

Avinash Devda, Honorary Secretary of the Association, said, " The traders of Begum Bazar will neither engage in nor support the sale of adulterated goods. This is a pledge that we all take. We also want more clarity on penalty frameworks."