FSSAI licence of seven restaurants in three Telangana districts suspended over food safety violations

The Telangana Standards Authority for Food and Essential Drugs (TG SAFE) has suspended the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) licences of seven eateries in Nalgonda, Suryapet and Yadadri Bhuvanagiri districts following inspections on Wednesday that revealed multiple food safety and hygiene violations.

The enforcement teams have also directed the establishments to stop business operations immediately in the interest of public health.

Ten enforcement teams comprising Food Safety Officers and police personnel inspected 20 restaurants across the three districts. The inspections revealed unhygienic kitchen conditions, cockroach and housefly infestations, rotten vegetables, fungal contamination of food items, improper food storage and the absence of mandatory records.

The seven establishments whose FSSAI licences have been suspended are People Combine Hospitality LLP (7 Midway Plaza) at Peddakaparthy in Nalgonda district, Ammachethi Vanta (M/s Anjana Tiffins) at Narketpally, Tanuja Hotels in Suryapet, Sri Aadhya Grand Family Restaurant at Malkapur in Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district, AVR Group of Hotels (Sangam Hotel) at Choutuppal, Highway Hospitality at Rayanigudem in Suryapet district and Sri Mamatha Lodge and Restaurant in Suryapet.

The inspections at these restaurants revealed cockroach infestation, pest contamination, spoiled vegetables, unhygienic freezers, expired food items, vegetarian and non-vegetarian food stored together, rodent droppings and lack of mandatory hygiene records.

Apart from suspending the seven licences, TG SAFE collected 20 food samples on suspicion of adulteration.

An improvement notice will be issued to eight establishments, including People Combine Hospitality LLP in Suryapet, Little Village and Vivera Hotel in Nalgonda, Hotel Sai Krishna in Suryapet, Hotel Vintage and Vintage Cafe in Nalgonda, Sri Tirumala Grand in Suryapet, Sangam Hotel at Malkapur and Dharasutha Foods in Nalgonda.

The establishments will be reinspected to verify compliance with food safety norms, and further action will be taken based on the findings.

Show-cause notices have also been issued to five establishments: Hotel Sai Priya Family Restaurant at Nakrekal, Vivera Private Limited at Narketpally, Village Organic Kitchen at Yellagiri, Orissa Dhaba (Old) at Chityala, and Minerva Coffee Shop and Blue Fox Restaurant at Vattimarthy.