Hyderabad: The Telangana Food Safety Wing suspended the licences of 14 eateries on Saturday after a Hyderabad food safety drive across the Golconda and Charminar zones, and issued show-cause notices to eight more.
TG SAFE ordered the 14 outlets to stop operations immediately. Officials also warned that the eight establishments facing show-cause notices could face further action, including penalties.
Twenty-two teams of Food Safety Officers and police checked 22 restaurants and food establishments at the same time. During the inspections, enforcement teams discarded 544 kg of food unfit for consumption and 13 kg of cooking oil over suspected repeated use. They also collected 21 food samples on suspicion of adulteration for further examination.
The drive covered hotels, restaurants, bakeries, central kitchens and smaller eateries in the Old City and nearby localities. Teams visited Charminar, Shahalibanda, Falaknuma, Tolichowki, Santosh Nagar, Masab Tank, Gudimalkapur, Malakpet, Dilsukhnagar and Lakdikapool.
Cockroaches, rodents and expired food found in kitchens
Inspectors found unhygienic kitchens and washing areas, poorly maintained refrigerators, and heavy accumulations of grease and dirt around cooking equipment. Some premises had cockroaches, houseflies and rodents, which the teams said posed sanitation and contamination risks.
Teams also came across spoiled and expired food and items stored improperly. Officials noted lapses in food-handler hygiene and gaps in the mandatory records outlets must keep.
Photographs released by TG SAFE showed grimy kitchen surfaces, unclean washing areas, food kept in unhygienic refrigerators and grease around cooking stations.
Hyderabad food safety teams shut 14 outlets
Two outlets named Hotel Sri Raghavendra Udupi Veg, one on Brindavan Colony Road in Tolichowki and the other at Santosh Nagar, lost their licences. So did Lucky Restaurant at Santosh Nagar, Shah Ghouse Cafe at Shahalibanda and Hotel Nayaab at Nayapool in Charminar.
Sri Balaji Family Dhaba at Gudi Malkapur, Siddique Kabab Central Kitchen at Gudimalkapur, Alsaba Hotel at Tolichowki and Mehfil Restaurant at Dilsukhnagar were also on the list.
The others were Dine Hill Restaurant at Masab Tank, Sohail Restaurant and Hotel Akshaya Tiffins at Malakpet, Hotel Venkateshwara on MJR Road, and Aeezebo The Royal Arabian Restaurant at Salarjung Colony, Rethibowli.
Pista House, Taj Falaknuma Palace get show-cause notices
Taj Falaknuma Palace at Engine Bowli and Pista House Restaurant at Shahalibanda were among the eight establishments served notices. Hotel Sabzi at Itebar Chowk in Elijaha Kotla and Sweekar Hotel at Santosh Nagar also received them.
Notices went to Mandi at 36 Arabian Kitchen in Charminar, Golconda Hotel and Resorts at Masab Tank, Imperial Multicuisine Restaurant at Tolichowki and Taiba Bakery on Bazarghat Main Road, Lakdikapool.
After the drive, TG SAFE issued a public advisory asking diners to check that an outlet displays a valid Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) licence and keeps its kitchen and serving areas clean. It told them to avoid food that looks spoiled, smells odd or shows signs of pests.
People who want to complain were advised to keep their bills and note the outlet’s name and where and when they ate. The department reminded food business operators that they must keep premises clean, store food safely, carry out pest control and maintain the records the rules require.
The Food Safety Wing said public health depends on safe food practices and responsible businesses, and asked both diners and restaurant operators to be more watchful to prevent contamination and keep hygiene standards.