Some of the seized food products.
| Photo Credit: Handout
A chocolate manufacturing and repacking unit in Old Mallepally was raided by the Hyderabad Food Adulteration and Safety Team (H-FAST), the Food Safety Department and Habeebnagar police on Thursday (June 4). The raid resulted in the owner being booked for alleged violations of food safety regulations.The accused, Konda Karthik, was found operating Vignette Food Specialities Pvt. Ltd. at Seetarambagh, Old Mallepally. During the inspection, officials alleged that he was manufacturing, repacking and marketing chocolate products without complying with mandatory food safety norms and labelling requirements.According to officials, several packed chocolate products were found without declarations relating to manufacturing dates, batch numbers, expiry dates and best-before dates. The inspection also revealed that flavours and essences suspected to have crossed their expiry period were stored at the premises and were allegedly being used in the manufacturing process. Various colouring agents and powders used in chocolate preparation were also found at the unit.Officials further alleged that the products were being marketed using details of an old FSSAI licence despite the unit possessing a separate manufacturing licence. The inspection also found that pest control records were not maintained and medical fitness certificates for food handlers and staff were unavailable.The team seized 200 kg of caramel chocolate packed in 20 boxes, 20 kg of choco balls packed in two cartons, three cartons of chocolate sticks, 40 boxes of marshmallow and jujube products, 32 cranberry chocolates, 22 paan chocolates and 18 cashew chocolates. Four panning machines and two chocolate melting machines were also seized.A quantity of flavours, essences and colouring agents suspected to be expired, while nd other food additives, were also seized during the operation.The accused and the seized material were handed over to Habeebnagar police for further legal action. A case was registered and an investigation is under way. Published - June 04, 2026 08:10 pm IST
