HYDERABAD: Several of the city’s popular eateries have repeatedly been flagged for food-safety violations, raising questions about the effectiveness of inspections and penalties.Hotel Shadab, flagged in 2024, had its FSSAI licence suspended in Sept 2026. Shah Ghouse and The Rameshwaram Cafe were flagged in May 2024 for poor storage, expired items and missing medical records, and again in Sept 2026. Pista House faced repeated violations in 2024, 2025 and Aug 2026, while Mehfil was flagged in June and Sept 2026. Absolute Barbeque, 4 Seasons, Hotel Alpha and Chutneys reported repeat lapses, including pest infestations and expired food.
Safety violations leave a bitter taste
Former Telangana food safety commissioner Sangeetha Satyanarayana said most restaurants know the rules, but poor storage, inadequate infrastructure and staff shortages undermine compliance. “Some owners find it cheaper to pay fines than invest in cold storage, pest control and staff training. Once the inspector leaves, things often go back to the old way,” she added“Inspections show the state of a kitchen on the day an inspector walks in, not on the other 364 days,” she said, stressing the need for continuous monitoring and meaningful penalties.City-based food safety expert Anirudh Gupta said public exposure can also drive change. “A branch that refused me drinking water served it on the first request six months later, after my social media video went viral last year, which shows repeated call-outs work. Another of my videos on chat shop in the Old City was shared about 15,000 times, led to boycott calls, and the vendor later installed glass counters at his Attapur outlet,” he recalled.Police are ensuring that restaurants with suspended licences remain closed until the suspensions are lifted.“In the past, inspections identified violations, but stringent action such as licence suspension was not taken,” said a TG SAFE official. “Earlier drives in Kukatpally, Gachibowli, Banjara Hills and other upscale areas were treated lightly. This time is different. We are suspending licences, and we will not let them reopen until we are fully satisfied.”Other states are tightening enforcement too. Karnataka has directed food businesses to rectify hygiene and safety violations within 15 days or face legal action, while West Bengal has launched special inspections of restaurants, sweet shops and eateries. Maharashtra has introduced restrictions on junk-food sales within 50 metres of schools, prohibited serving food on newspapers and mandated licences for organisers of community and religious feasts.Restaurant owners acknowledged the gaps but said inspections have helped.Mohd Faraz Rabbani, owner of Shah Ghouse, which has seven outlets, welcomed the drive, saying hygiene was essential to maintaining customer trust. “Pests entering through beverage crates, gas cylinders and egg trays are a major challenge. The chain had strengthened pest control and cleaned kitchens two to three times daily,” he added.Mohd Mubeen Pasha, owner of Mehfil, which operates 17 outlets in Hyderabad, said the chain had shifted to branded products with proper labelling and reduced bulk purchases after inspections exposed stock and storage issues.Making compliance stickSatyanarayana called for fines proportionate to an establishment’s size and the severity of violations, escalating penalties for repeat offenders, and swift action-including stock seizure and licence suspension-for serious breaches involving expired food or unsafe storage.“These steps would make enforcement faster and more predictable, and push establishments to correct problems before they become a pattern,” said Gupta.Sandeep Balasubramanian, city chapter head of the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI), called for a tracking mechanism to distinguish repeat violations from new lapses, alongside recognition for establishments that consistently maintain hygiene standards. “The industry needs an ecosystem that highlights and promotes good practices,” he added.
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