On Wednesday, the Telangana government announced an immediate one-year ban on producing, storing, and selling mayonnaise made with raw eggs. This order from the state’s food safety commissioner follows complaints connecting the product to suspected food poisoning incidents.
Effective October 30, this ban was issued by the Commissioner of Food Safety under Section 30 (2) (a) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Soon to be published in the Telangana State Gazette, the order emphasizes the risk of food poisoning linked to mayonnaise made with raw eggs.
Recent inspections and public complaints suggest that this ingredient, widely used in shawarma, sandwiches, and burgers, may have contributed to several reported cases of foodborne illnesses, leading the government to enact this precautionary measure.
Mayonnaise, or “mayo,” is a creamy sauce created by emulsifying egg yolks with oil and typically flavoured with vinegar or lemon juice. Recently, a tragic incident occurred in Hyderabad’s Banjara Hills where a woman passed away, and her two young daughters, along with over 20 others, were hospitalized after consuming momos from a street vendor.
“As per the observations during enforcement activities and complaints received from the public, Mayonnaise made from raw eggs is suspected to be a cause of food poisoning in multiple incidents in the past few months,” the order mentioned.
A 31-year-old woman and her daughters, aged 12 and 14, reportedly consumed momos from a street vendor in Chintal Basti, Khairatabad. Soon after, they began experiencing intense food poisoning symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea, and abdominal pain.
Initially, they decided to rest at home, hoping their symptoms would subside. However, as their condition worsened, they were rushed to the hospital on October 27. Tragically, Reshma Begum passed away en route, while her daughters are now receiving medical care.
The incident led local authorities to initiate a thorough investigation. Food safety officials from the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, working alongside Banjara Hills police, located the street vendor involved. During the probe, police discovered that at least 20 other nearby residents had also been hospitalized with similar symptoms after consuming food from the same vendor.
Inspections revealed that the vendor’s stall was operating without the required Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) license. Additionally, the stall failed to meet essential hygiene standards, with food being prepared in unsanitary conditions.