Hyderabad food safety inspections have resulted in notices to prominent establishments including Taj Falaknuma Palace and Golconda Hotel and Resorts, while the licences of 14 other restaurants and eating establishments were suspended after officials reported serious hygiene and food-storage violations across the city.
The Telangana Standards Authority for Food and Essential Drugs (TG SAFE) conducted the inspections on Saturday through 22 enforcement teams comprising food safety officers and police personnel. The drive covered 22 establishments in the Golconda and Charminar zones, according to a release from the agency.
Officials served notices to Taj Falaknuma Palace, Golconda Hotel and Resorts at Masab Tank, Hotel Sabzi near Itebar Chowk, Mandi at 36 Arabian Kitchen at Charminar, Pista House at Shahalibanda, Sweekar Hotel at Santoshnagar, Imperial Multicuisine Restaurant at Tolichowki and Taiba Bakery on Bazarghat Main Road.
At Taj Falaknuma Palace, an official source said inspectors found expired and mislabelled food items and pest infestation. Frozen meat was reportedly being stored with a stated shelf life of 90 days without proper shelf-life studies. Cooking oil tested at the establishment recorded total polar compounds (TPC) of 27, above the permissible limit of 25.
TG SAFE issued a show-cause notice requiring the establishment’s management to appear and explain the violations. A compoundable case will also be booked, the official source said. The agency stated that further action, including penalties, would follow the proceedings.
The 14 establishments whose food safety licences were suspended included Hotel Sri Raghavendra Udupi Veg and Alsaba Hotel at Tolichowki; Lucky Restaurant and another Hotel Sri Raghavendra Udupi Veg outlet at Santoshnagar; Shah Ghouse Cafe at Shahalibanda; Hotel Nayaab at Nayapul; Sri Balaji Family Dhaba and Siddique Kabab Central Kitchen at Gudimalkapur; Mehfil Restaurant at Dilsukhnagar; Dine Hill Restaurant, Sohail Restaurant and Hotel Akshaya Tiffins at Malakpet; Hotel Venkateshwara on MJR Road; and Aeezebo The Royal Arabian Restaurant at Salar Jung Colony, Rethibowli.
Inspectors reported cockroaches, houseflies and rat droppings in several kitchens. Other findings included damaged or waterlogged floors, greasy exhaust systems, unclean refrigerators, expired or fungus-contaminated food, raw meat stored alongside vegetarian food and uncovered food items. Some food handlers were reportedly working without hairnets or aprons, while mandatory pest-control and employee health records were absent at some establishments.
At Siddique Kabab Central Kitchen, officials reported cats moving inside the kitchen. At Aeezebo The Royal Arabian Restaurant, cockroaches were found in the drinking-water storage tank. Inspectors at Shah Ghouse Cafe reported workers consuming gutka or pan masala, along with food affected by pests and fungal contamination.
The agency also cited the use of newspapers to cover food, poor drainage, inadequate lighting and ventilation. TG SAFE directed the 14 establishments with suspended licences to stop operations immediately in the interest of public health.
The inspections led to the collection of 21 food samples on suspicion of adulteration. Officials discarded 544 kg of spoiled or contaminated vegetables, leftover food, expired products and pest-infested food, along with 13 kg of used cooking oil suspected of repeated use. Further action will depend on the proceedings against the establishments.
