FSSAI licenses of seven KFC, two Domino’s Pizza outlets in Hyderabad suspended over food safety violations

The Telangana Standards Authority for Food and Essential Drugs (TG SAFE)officials serving notices on a food outlet in 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 seven KFC outlets and two Domino’s Pizza outlets in Hyderabad following inspections that uncovered food safety violations, including cockroach infestation, rat droppings, expired food products and unauthorised reuse of cooking oil.

A total of 13 enforcement teams comprising Food Safety Officers and police personnel inspected 26 outlets of the two popular fast-food chains across Hyderabad on Thursday, November 12. Following the inspections, officials also seized approximately 52 kg of synthetic magnesium silicate and collected 20 food samples on suspicion of adulteration.

The outlets whose FSSAI licences have been cancelled are KFC at Madinaguda-Miyapur, Sindhi Colony, Charminar, Moosarambagh, Banjara Hills, Shilpa Kala Vedika in Hitec City and Inorbit Mall in Madhapur, and Domino’s Pizza outlets at Sarath City Mall in Kondapur and Inorbit Mall in Madhapur.

The inspections at the above outlets revealed cockroach and housefly infestation, unauthorised use of magnesium silicate to filter used oil, fungal growth on walls, greasy utensils, unclean food preparation equipment, rat droppings and untidy storeroom.

TG SAFE officials said that they will also share details of the nine suspended establishments with online food delivery platforms, including Swiggy and Zomato, for delisting them until their FSSAI licences are restored.

Apart from the licence suspensions, TG SAFE said improvement notices would be issued to eight outlets, including four Domino’s branches at Nizampet, Miyapur, Himayatnagar and Malakpet, and four KFC branches at Kondapur, Karkhana, Himayatnagar and Shaikpet. These establishments will be reinspected to verify compliance with food safety norms.

Show-cause notices will also be issued to three Domino’s outlets at Karkhana, Gachibowli and Hitec City, and two KFC outlets at Nizampet and Gachibowli over serious violations. Further action will be initiated to impose penalties.