Food Safety Drive Shuts Nine Eateries

Hyderabad:Rodent infestation, stale chicken, mutton and prawns, and improper storage of vegetarian and non‑vegetarian food were among the violations found at Bahar Biryani Cafe in Nagole during a food safety inspection by Telangana Standards Authority for Food and Essential Drugs (TG SAFE). The eatery’s FSSAI licence was suspended and it was ordered to stop operations immediately.

The action was part of a special drive by 10 TG SAFE enforcement teams comprising food safety officers and police personnel, which inspected 20 food establishments in the LB Nagar area.

FSSAI licences of nine establishments were suspended following the inspections. Besides Bahar Biryani Cafe, the establishments include Sangeeth Grand Restaurant and Bar, Balaji Pheni and Namkeen, Bhuvaneshwari Oil Industries, Hotel Sindhura East Court, Chemistry Bar and Kitchen at Surabhi Grand, New Limra Hotel, N Village Multicuisine Restaurant in Champapet and Hotel Kinara Grand Restaurant and Bar in Vanasthalipuram.

At Sangeeth Grand, officials found cockroach infestation, expired and pest‑infested food products and use of synthetic food colours. Balaji Pheni and Namkeen was found preparing food in unhygienic conditions.

At Bhuvaneshwari Oil Industries, groundnut kernels were reportedly handled with bare feet and hands, while cobwebs were found on the premises. Officials also found poor‑quality groundnuts containing foreign matter and dust being used for oil manufacturing. A stock of 6,120 kg of groundnuts valued at Rs. 5.50 lakh was seized on suspicion of quality.

Hotel Sindhura East Court was found with improperly maintained refrigerators, inadequate segregation of vegetarian and non‑vegetarian food and spoiled vegetables. Chemistry Bar and Kitchen was found to have expired and stale food, reused cooking oil and unhygienic preparation conditions. New Limra Hotel was found using synthetic food colours and preparing food in unhygienic conditions.

N Village Multicuisine Restaurant had heavy cockroach infestation and expired food items, while Hotel Kinara Grand had rodent infestation, damaged flooring with water stagnation and inadequate records.

TG SAFE officials also lifted 20 food samples on suspicion of adulteration.

Improvement notices will be issued to Ramakrishna Oil Mill, Green Land Dhaba, Kefi Café and One Lounge Bar and Kitchen. These establishments will be reinspected to check compliance.

Show‑cause notices will be issued to Galaxy Café and Restaurant, Antera‑Nagole, Hotel Saradhi Grand, Lucky Restaurant‑Nagole, Vijaya Raghavendra Hotel, Bhagavati Misthan Bhandar and The Joint Al Mandi‑Nagole. Further action, including penalties, will follow based on violations.