The Telangana Standards Authority for Food and Essential Drugs (TG SAFE) has suspended the food safety licences of eight restaurants and cloud kitchens in Hyderabad following inspections that reportedly revealed serious hygiene and food safety violations.
During a special enforcement drive on November 10, officials deployed 24 teams comprising Food Safety Officers and Hyderabad City Police personnel to inspect 23 food establishments across the Core Urban Region (CURE).
According to reports, officials collected 25 food samples on suspicion of adulteration and discarded approximately 700 kg of spoiled and contaminated food articles. The eight establishments were directed to immediately stop business operations in the interest of public health.
Eight Establishments Ordered to Stop Operations
The establishments whose food safety licences were suspended are:
- Biryani By Kilo – Gachibowli
- Kulcha Kulture – Madhapur
- Lucky Multicuisine Restaurant – Somajiguda
- Tum Yum Innovisions – Madhapur
- Zora 11 By 2 – Khairatabad
- LO Fresh Foods – Madhapur
- ITC Aashirwad Soul Creations Cloud Kitchen – Gachibowli
- Sodexo India Services – Kondapur.
Major Violations Reported During Inspections
Officials reportedly identified several food safety and hygiene issues, including:
- Cockroach and rodent infestations in kitchens and food storage areas.
- Expired food products and spoiled vegetables.
- Rat damaged potatoes and pest infested flour.
- Unclean cooking equipment, refrigerators and kitchen surfaces.
- Improper storage of vegetarian and non vegetarian food together.
- Clogged drainage systems and unhygienic food preparation areas.
- Food handlers working without appropriate protective clothing, including hairnets and aprons.
At some establishments, inspectors also reported leaking freezers, corroded chopping boards and improperly labelled food containers.
Notices to 15 More Establishments
Apart from the eight licence suspensions:
- 10 establishments were issued show cause notices over serious violations.
- Five establishments will receive improvement notices to rectify identified deficiencies.
Officials said the establishments would be reinspected to verify compliance. Further action, including penalties, may follow depending on the findings.
TG SAFE’s Food Safety Enforcement Drive
- The enforcement action is part of Telangana’s efforts to strengthen food safety standards across restaurants and cloud kitchens.
- The authority has directed the eight establishments to stop operations immediately. The collected food samples will be examined as part of the follow up process.
- The inspections highlight the importance of maintaining proper kitchen hygiene, safe food storage, pest control and compliance with food safety regulations.
