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**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 Hyderabad’s Golconda and Charminar zones following inspections conducted on Saturday, October 31.
Officials inspected 22 restaurants and reported several food safety violations, including unhygienic kitchens, cockroach and housefly infestations, spoiled vegetables, fungal contamination, expired food products and improper storage of raw and cooked food.
Inspectors also found restaurants repeatedly using cooking oil for frying and food handlers working without basic protective clothing such as hairnets and aprons.
During the drive, officials collected 21 food samples for suspected adulteration and discarded 544 kg of spoiled vegetables, leftover food, expired products and food articles contaminated by pests. Another 13 kg of used cooking oil suspected of repeated use was also disposed of.
## Show-cause notices issued to eight establishments
TG SAFE issued show-cause notices to eight establishments over the reported violations. These include:
- Taj Falaknuma Palace, Engine Bowli
- Hotel Sabzi, Charminar
- Pista House, Shah Ali Banda
- Sweekar Hotel, Santosh Nagar
- Mandi\@36 Arabian Kitchen, Charminar
- Golconda Hotel and Resorts, Masab Tank
- Imperial Multicuisine Restaurant, Tolichowki
- Taiba Bakery, Bazarghat
Further action, including penalties, may follow after the establishments respond to the notices.
## Licences of 14 restaurants suspended
The authority suspended the FSSAI licences of 14 establishments and directed them to immediately stop business operations in the interest of public health.
The list includes Hotel Sri Raghavendra Udupi Veg at Tolichowki, Lucky Restaurant at Santosh Nagar, Shah Ghouse Cafe at Shahalibanda and Hotel Nayaab at Nayapool.
Other establishments facing suspension include 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, Dine Hill Restaurant at Masab Tank, Sohail Restaurant and Hotel Akshaya Tiffins at Malakpet, Hotel Venkateshwara at MJR Road and Aeezebo The Royal Arabian Restaurant at Salarjung Colony, Rethibowli.
## Cats, flies and unhygienic storage found in kitchens
At Siddique Kabab Central Kitchen, inspectors reportedly found live cats inside the kitchen, a heavy housefly infestation and rat droppings. Prepared gravies were stored in buckets near broomsticks, slippers and other unhygienic materials. Kitchen utensils were also found greasy and corroded.
At Aeezebo The Royal Arabian Restaurant, cockroaches were reportedly found in the drinking water storage tank, while vegetables showed signs of fungal contamination. Officials also flagged mayonnaise prepared using raw eggs and improper storage of vegetarian and non-vegetarian food.
## Violations reported at Shah Ghouse Cafe and Hotel Nayaab
During the inspection at Shah Ghouse Cafe, officials found rotten fruits, expired food products, fungal contamination and food items infested with pests. Workers were also reportedly consuming gutka and pan masala on the premises.
At Hotel Nayaab, inspectors found newspapers being used to cover food articles, stagnant water in the biryani preparation area and raw meat stored alongside prepared gravies.
Other restaurants were also found with greasy chimneys, damaged flooring, clogged drains, unhygienic refrigerators and uncovered food items. Officials reported cockroach infestations and rat droppings in some kitchens, along with missing records relating to pest control and the health of food handlers.
TG SAFE Commissioner said the special inspection drives were aimed at enforcing food safety standards and protecting public health. The authority has also forwarded photographs and videos from the inspections for publication and further necessary action.
