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Buying Diwali sweets in Hyderabad: safety checks before you shop
Diwali is 8 November 2026. Food-safety teams have already inspected sweet units in the city. Here's what to check at the counter — without naming any shop.
Last checked 29 Oct 2026.
Inspection figures are from The Hindu reports of 24 and 28 Oct 2026. More drives may follow before Diwali.
In short
Ahead of Deepavali, Telangana's food-safety authority (TG SAFE) ran inspection drives on sweet manufacturing and retail units in Hyderabad. On 23 Oct 2026, teams inspected 21 units, suspended three FSSAI licences and seized 1,035 kg of food products (The Hindu, 24 Oct 2026). On 28 Oct 2026, 13 teams inspected 16 units, ordered five establishments shut, suspended five other licences, and seized or discarded 3,546.5 kg of food articles (The Hindu, 28 Oct 2026). This page does not name shops. Use it to check licences and complain through official channels.
Why this matters now
Deepavali falls on 8 November 2026. Sweet demand rises in the weeks before. The October drives found problems that are easy to look for yourself: unhygienic premises, pests, expired products, improper storage, and missing records (The Hindu, 24 Oct 2026; The Hindu, 28 Oct 2026).
What the October drives found (totals only)
23 Oct 2026 drive (The Hindu, 24 Oct 2026):
- 21 sweet manufacturing and retail units inspected (11 teams of food safety officers and police).
- Three FSSAI licences suspended; one more unit ordered closed for operating without a licence.
- 1,035 kg of food products seized (reported value ₹7.76 lakh).
- 21 food samples collected on suspicion of adulteration; improvement notices planned for six establishments.
28 Oct 2026 drive (The Hindu, 28 Oct 2026):
- 16 units inspected by 13 teams.
- Five establishments ordered to close (no valid FSSAI licence or unhygienic conditions).
- Five other FSSAI licences suspended.
- 3,546.5 kg of food articles seized or discarded (reported value ₹16.86 lakh).
- 22 samples collected; show-cause notices to seven establishments; one improvement notice planned.
We are not listing shop names. Enforcement lists change; check the current FSSAI licence status of any seller you use.
Checks before you buy
- Ask to see the FSSAI licence (or registration) displayed at the shop / on packaged sweets. You can also look up licence details on FoSCoS / FSSAI.
- Look at the counter: sweets should not sit under newspapers or dirty cloths; trays and work surfaces should look clean; watch for pests.
- Packed sweets: check manufacturing / expiry dates and sealed packaging.
- Smell and colour: strongly artificial colours or off smells are a reason to walk away.
- Bill: keep a bill with the shop name and date if you need to complain later.
Where to complain
- Hyderabad Food Adulteration Surveillance Team (H-FAST): Hyderabad City Police unit working with food safety officers. Toll-free 8712661212 to report food adulteration and unsafe practices (The Hindu, 19 Mar 2026, launch report; number also cited in later Hindu coverage).
- FSSAI / state food safety: use FoSCoS licence lookup and state grievance channels listed on FSSAI's helpdesk pages. Keep photos of the product, packaging and bill.
- Do not post medical records or private photos of other people in Soshyal rooms.
Related on Soshyal
Talk it through nearby
There is no dedicated food-safety room yet. For neighbour chat, join Ask Hyderabad — do not post private photos of other people or medical details. Rooms are 18+.
FAQ
- Were sweet shops shut in Hyderabad before Diwali 2026?
- Yes. The Hindu reported TG SAFE drives on 23 and 28 Oct 2026 that suspended licences and ordered some units closed. This page gives totals only, not shop names.
- How do I check if a sweet shop has an FSSAI licence?
- Ask to see the licence displayed at the shop, and look up details on FoSCoS / FSSAI (foscos.fssai.gov.in).
- What number do I call for food adulteration in Hyderabad?
- H-FAST (Hyderabad City Police) published toll-free 8712661212 when the unit launched (The Hindu, 19 Mar 2026).
- Why doesn't this page name the shops?
- Enforcement lists change and naming shops is not needed for a safety checklist. Use the FSSAI licence check for any seller you visit.
Sources
- The Hindu, Ahead of Deepavali, FSSAI licences of three Hyderabad sweet shops suspended; 1,035 kg seized, 24 Oct 2026
- The Hindu, Five sweet shops shut, licences of five others suspended in Hyderabad, 28 Oct 2026
- The Hindu, Hyderabad Police launch H-FAST; toll-free 8712661212, 19 Mar 2026
- FSSAI FoSCoS licence / registration portal, accessed 29 Oct 2026