Rats, Cockroaches, Expired Food: What Was Found During Inspections At Hyderabad Restaurants?

Last Updated:November 29, 2024, 10:47 IST

Hyderabad: Food safety officers inspected restaurants in the Telangana capital, and found rats, cockroaches, leftover food, and expired items among other things. One restaurant was even operating without an FSSAI license.

Food officers conducted inspections at various restaurants in Hyderabad’s Lakdikapul area on November 26. During their visit to one of the restaurants, the team was shocked to find rats and leftover food. Officials further revealed that the restaurant, Khan-E-Khas, was operating without a valid FSSAI license and Pest Control Records, Medical Fitness Certificates, and Water Analysis Reports were missing.

Upon entering the kitchen, the team immediately discarded the leftover food. The restaurant’s refrigerator was not only unhygienic but also improperly used to store both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food items together.

The team also found rat droppings on shelves used to store raw food materials, confirming a rodent infestation in the kitchen. They also noted a very small kitchen space, which made proper cleaning nearly impossible.

The official X (formerly known as Twitter) account of the Commissioner of Food Safety, Telangana, also shared a few images to substantiate their claims. One image showed leftover food from the previous day, while another was of vegetarian and non-vegetarian food stored together. Pictures of filthy floor, uncooked meat placed close to a dustbin were also shared by the restaurant.

Next, the team inspected Shahi Dastarkhan and found cockroaches inside the kitchen. At this restaurant, the team noted “greasy walls” and particles “shredding” from the ceiling of the kitchen. Just like Khan-E-Khas, this particular restaurant too had stagnant water.

Expired food items were also found on the premises, which the team immediately discarded.

Bademiyan Kebabs was the next restaurant to fall short of food safety guidelines. The team found cobwebs, and synthetic food colours inside the kitchen that were discarded on the spot. Additionally, the team noted that the food handlers were working without wearing hair caps and gloves.

One common issue across all three restaurants was the lack of insect-proof screens in the kitchen premises, allowing insects to enter freely.