Hotel Nayaab among 14 eateries to shut after food safety raid

Hyderabad: The Telangana Standards Authority for Food and Essential Drugs (TG SAFE) has suspended the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) licences of 14 restaurants in Golconda and Charminar Zones following inspections on Saturday, October 31.

Officials inspected 22 restaurants and found unhygienic kitchens, cockroach and housefly infestations, spoiled vegetables, fungal contamination, expired food products and improper storage of raw and cooked food.

Several establishments were also found using cooking oil repeatedly, while food handlers were working without hairnets and aprons.

As part of the enforcement action, officials collected 21 food samples on suspicion of adulteration and discarded 544 kg of spoiled and contaminated vegetables, leftover food, expired products and food articles infested with pests.

Another 13 kg of used cooking oil suspected to have been repeatedly used for frying was also discarded.

Show-cause notice to Pista House

Show-cause notices were issued to eight establishments, including Taj Falaknuma Palace at Engine Bowli, Hotel Sabzi at Charminar, Pista House at Shah Ali Banda, Sweekar Hotel at Santosh Nagar, Mandi@36 Arabian Kitchen at Charminar, Golconda Hotel and Resorts at Masab Tank, Imperial Multicuisine Restaurant at Tolichowki and Taiba Bakery at Bazarghat.

Further action, including imposition of penalties, will be initiated against them.

Hotel Nayaab, Sohail Hotel asked to stop business operations

The FSSAI licences of 14 other establishments were suspended, with instructions to immediately stop business operations in the interest of public health.

The establishments facing licence suspension include Hotel Sri Raghavendra Udupi Veg at Tolichowki, Lucky Restaurant at Santosh Nagar, Shah Ghouse Cafe at Shahalibanda and Hotel Nayaab at Nayapool.

Sri Balaji Family Dhaba at Gudimalkapur, Siddique Kabab Central Kitchen at Gudimalkapur, Alsaba Hotel at Tolichowki, Mehfil Restaurant at Dilsukhnagar, Hotel Sri Raghavendra Udupi Veg at Santosh Nagar and Dine Hill Restaurant at Masab Tank are also on the list.

So are Sohail Restaurant and Hotel Akshaya Tiffins at Malakpet, Hotel Venkateshwara at MJR Road and Aeezebo The Royal Arabian Restaurant at Salarjung Colony, Rethibowli.

Cats and house flies found roaming inside kitchens

At Siddique Kabab Central Kitchen, officials found live cats roaming inside the kitchen, heavy housefly infestation and rat droppings. Prepared gravies were stored in buckets kept near broomsticks, slippers and other unhygienic materials. The kitchen utensils were also found greasy and corroded.

At Aeezebo The Royal Arabian Restaurant, cockroaches were found in the drinking water storage tank, while vegetables showed fungal contamination. Officials also detected mayonnaise prepared using raw eggs and improper storage of vegetarian and non-vegetarian food items.

Violations at Shah Ghouse Cafe and Nayaab

Inspections at Shah Ghouse Cafe revealed rotten fruits, expired food products, fungal contamination and food articles infested with pests. Workers were also found consuming gutka and pan masala on the premises.

At Hotel Nayaab, officials found newspapers being used to cover food articles, stagnant water in the biryani preparation area and raw meat stored alongside prepared gravies.

At several other establishments, officials noticed greasy chimneys, damaged flooring, clogged drains, unhygienic refrigerators, uncovered food articles and a lack of mandatory records relating to pest control and the health of food handlers. Rat droppings and cockroach infestations were also reported in some kitchens.

TG SAFE Commissioner said the special drives were aimed at ensuring food safety and protecting public health. The authority has forwarded photographs and videos of the inspections for publication and further necessary action.

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