Is Eating Out in Hyderabad Putting Your Health at Risk?

The food scene in Hyderabad is constantly bursting with new tastes, options, and experiences, much like a lively, busy marketplace. Residents of the city are giving up home-cooked meals for the pleasures of local restaurants and online food delivery, resulting in a notable shift towards dining out. Hyderabadis are eating out a staggering seven times a month, which is slightly less than the national average of eight times, according to the National Restaurant Association of India's (NRAI) 2024 India Food Services Report (IFSR).

Special occasions like birthdays, family get-togethers, and national holidays are when this trend is most noticeable, as individuals prefer to visit new restaurants or go to movie theaters and other entertainment venues. Hyderabad has a thriving food business worth Rs. 10,161 crore, with over 74,000 restaurants in the city, including over 40,000 organized restaurants. The city's gastronomic diversity has made it a popular destination for foodies, whether they prefer the rich flavors of North and South Indian food or more exotic fare like Chinese, Italian, and Mexican.

But as eating out becomes more popular, worries about food safety and cleanliness grow. Even while the food industry is expanding, a lot of restaurant food is calorie-dense and unhygienic, which can result in health problems including obesity. Since many restaurants do not satisfy basic requirements, health professionals stress the necessity for restaurants to adopt higher hygiene and safety standards. Concerns regarding food safety have even led to some well-known eateries being flagged during inspections.

Let us hope the upcoming food inspection is not a "microwave disaster" waiting to happen while the city continues to enjoy its passion of eating out!