Food safety officials have suspended the licence of Sahu Hotel at Rajendra Chowk in Hajipur after an inspection found an unhygienic kitchen, open food storage and food kept in dirty conditions, Bihar’s health department said.
The action followed a complaint about a cockroach allegedly being found in food served by the eatery. Officials inspected the restaurant on Wednesday after the complaint reached the office of health department secretary and food safety commissioner Kumar Ravi. The designated officer-cum-licensing authority suspended the establishment’s food licence with effect from October 22.
The restaurant has also been barred from operating without a valid licence. The health department said the inspection identified conditions that violated food safety and hygiene requirements, including the handling and storage of prepared food.
The suspension forms part of an intensified food-safety enforcement drive across Bihar. According to the department, several eateries have had their licences suspended during the past two months, while many others have been served notices for failing to meet hygiene and food-storage standards.
Recent inspections, particularly in Patna, found food items with fungal growth, foul-smelling ingredients and expired products in kitchens and storage areas, the department said. The establishments inspected included confectionery workshops producing traditional sweets, popular food joints and high-end hotels.
Food safety officials have seized and destroyed unsafe food items and issued notices over poor hygiene, improper storage and inadequate handling practices. The department said establishments that fail to comply with food safety regulations would face strict legal action.
Food business operators have been asked to maintain kitchen hygiene, store food correctly and ensure that customers are served safe and quality food. The Hajipur suspension will remain relevant to the eatery’s operations because the establishment cannot legally operate without a valid food licence.
