Food safety officials have taken action against five establishments in Hyderabad’s Kukatpally area after inspections found a string of hygiene and food safety violations.The Telangana Standards Authority for Food and Essential Drugs (TG SAFE) suspended the FSSAI licences of five food establishments on Wednesday. The action followed a special enforcement drive carried out in the area by food safety officers along with police personnel.The establishments flagged during the inspections included a bakery manufacturing unit and Mandi King Arabian Restaurant. Officials reported several problems, including heavy cockroach infestations, pest-infested food, fungal contamination in groundnuts, expired food items and poorly maintained refrigerators. Spoiled vegetables and generally unhygienic premises were also found during the inspections.In a separate case, GVK New Luxury PG Men’s Hostel was found to be operating without an FSSAI licence or registration. Officials said the hostel was also not following required food safety norms. The establishment was subsequently closed.The enforcement drive involved 10 teams made up of food safety officers and police personnel. Together, the teams inspected 20 establishments across Kukatpally, including restaurants, bakeries, sweet shops and hostels.More than 20 food samples were collected during the inspections after officials suspected possible adulteration. The samples will help authorities determine whether further action is required against the establishments concerned.TG SAFE also said improvement notices will be issued to Sri Mahalaxmi Kendra at Gummadi Foods, KS Bakers, Lakshmi Vengamamba Hostel, Padmavathi Delux Mess, Mehfil Restaurant and Sree Harsha Delux Mess.These establishments will be inspected again to check whether they have addressed the violations and complied with food safety requirements. Further action could follow depending on the findings of those inspections.Meanwhile, Paradise Food Court, Chaitanya Food Court, Bhulakshmi Mess and Godavari Mithai are set to receive show-cause notices. TG SAFE said further action, including penalties, has been proposed in these cases.The latest drive is part of the food safety authority’s efforts to tighten checks on establishments serving or handling food in Hyderabad, particularly where hygiene and licensing requirements are not being followed.
