Food Safety Department Raids Restaurants in Hyderabad for Hygiene Violations
The Food Safety department’s Task Force in Hyderabad is actively ensuring safe and hygienic food standards in the city. On Sunday, officials conducted raids at several restaurants and discovered serious violations. One of the most notable findings was rat faeces at “Kishkinda Kitchen” (Kake di Hatti), a popular eatery. Many restaurants were found breaching hygiene rules, using expired food items, and violating food safety regulations.
The raids were initiated after a surge in complaints about unhygienic conditions, stale food, and insects being found in meals, particularly biryani. Officials also inspected prominent establishments like “Poshnosh Lounge & Bar” on Road No. 36, Jubilee Hills, and found significant violations of food safety norms.
At Kishkinda Kitchen, the situation was alarming. Rat faeces were found in storage areas, indicating a rodent infestation, while live cockroaches were spotted in the kitchen. The kitchen drains were clogged with food waste. The restaurant failed to provide water analysis reports, FOSTAC certificates, and medical records of employees. Food handlers were working without gloves, and refrigerators were poorly maintained, with food waste scattered inside. Expired food items, such as Real Fruit Orange Juice, button mushrooms, sunflower oil, and packed mustard seeds, were discovered and discarded. Additionally, raw and semi-prepared foods were stored together with non-food items, violating safety standards.
At Poshnosh Lounge & Bar, the restaurant was found operating with an expired license. The kitchen lacked proper drainage to remove food waste and had openings without insect-proof screens. Both vegetarian and non-vegetarian items, as well as food and non-food items, were stored together. Officials found expired items like soya sauce, papad packets, rasam powder, and mushrooms, all of which were discarded. Some loose split cashews were infested with insects. They also seized Sichuan pepper and a product imported from Bangkok without proper importer information. Additionally, 1 kg of industrial-grade citric acid was found in storage, raising concerns. The restaurant failed to provide pest control records, water analysis reports, and FOSTAC certificates. Refrigerators were not properly defrosted or cleaned.
On Saturday, the Task Force team inspected Shakti Milk and Milk Products in Jangaon district’s Raghunathpally mandal. The findings were equally concerning, as stored ghee was infested with houseflies and mosquitoes. A dead lizard was discovered near food items, and spider webs were observed on the roof. The equipment used was found to be unclean, rusted, and unsterilized. Raw food items were stored haphazardly, and labeling defects were noted on several packed products. Around 20 kg of curd was discarded due to contamination and fungal infestation, while 1,700 kg of curd was seized for labeling violations and concerns about substandard quality. Samples were collected for laboratory testing.
Officials have stated that appropriate action will be taken under the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSS Act), 2006, and the FSS Rules and Regulations, 2011. The department’s efforts aim to ensure that eateries comply with hygiene and safety standards to protect public health.
