Food safety officials in Hyderabad have uncovered serious hygiene violations at three restaurants during a recent inspection drive across the Cyberabad region, raising fresh concerns about sanitation standards in some of the city’s popular food outlets. The inspections were conducted at Shah Gouse Restaurant, Mehfil Restaurant, and Ideal Kitchen, where officials reported multiple lapses ranging from poor waste management to pest infestations.

At Shah Gouse Restaurant, inspectors noted a mix of compliance and violations. While food handlers were observed following basic hygiene practices, officials found houseflies across kitchen areas, grease and dirt accumulation, and an unhygienic non-vegetarian cutting section with risks of cross-contamination. Open drains, leaking storage areas, unlabelled semi-prepared food, and missing water testing records were also flagged. The restaurant scored 60 out of 92, receiving a 65 per cent rating and an improvement notice.

In a separate inspection at Mehfil Restaurant in Hitech City, officials found inadequate kitchen space and wet flooring, along with improper food preparation practices. Roomali rotis were reportedly being prepared in a construction area, a practice that was immediately stopped by the inspection team. Authorities also flagged unhygienic grading practices and the absence of medical fitness certificates for food handlers, issuing directions for corrective measures.

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Meanwhile, Ideal Kitchen in Madhapur was found to have more severe violations, including unwrapped batters and semi-prepared food stored improperly in freezers. Officials reported the presence of dead cockroaches in batter and insects in urad dal, along with raw materials stored without pallets, increasing the risk of contamination. The absence of medical fitness and water testing records further added to compliance concerns.

Following the inspections, food safety authorities issued improvement notices to all three establishments, directing them to urgently address hygiene lapses, improve storage practices, and ensure compliance with safety standards. Officials said the drive was part of ongoing efforts to strengthen food safety enforcement in the city and prevent public health risks arising from poor sanitation in commercial kitchens.

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