Hyderabad Restaurants to Display Live Kitchen Footage for Customers

Customers visiting restaurants often have no way of knowing how food is prepared or whether proper hygiene standards are maintained in the kitchen. To address these concerns and improve transparency, TGSafe is planning a new initiative in Hyderabad under which restaurants and hotels will display live kitchen footage on monitors near their billing counters. CCTV cameras will be installed inside kitchens, allowing customers to check cleanliness and food preparation practices without physically entering the cooking area. During a recent meeting with TGSafe officials, restaurant and hotel operators in the city reportedly agreed to the proposal. Customers will be able to view the kitchen conditions while paying their bills and decide whether they are comfortable dining at the establishment. Officials believe the initiative will encourage restaurant managements to maintain better hygiene standards. TGSafe Deputy Food Controller Anand Rao said the system would soon be implemented across the twin cities and that several hotels had already expressed interest.

The initiative also highlights key food safety and hygiene requirements prescribed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). Restaurant kitchens should be located away from toilets, drainage systems and garbage areas. Food handlers must wear caps, aprons and gloves, maintain clean nails and avoid wearing watches or rings while cooking. Employees with fever, cough or skin infections should not handle food, and health check-ups must be conducted every six months. Kitchen floors should be easy to clean and non-slippery, while walls should have tiles up to at least five feet. Proper ventilation, chimneys and exhaust fans are essential. Raw meat, vegetables and cooked food must be stored separately. Kitchens should also have covered dustbins, regular waste disposal and pest-control measures. FSSAI licences must be displayed prominently, and used cooking oil should be discarded when its Total Polar Compounds (TPC) level exceeds 25%.