Two popular restaurants in Hyderabad’s Chaitanyapuri have come under fire after a surprise food safety inspection conducted by the Telangana Food Safety Team revealed dangerous violations, raising serious public health concerns. The findings, shared by the Food Safety Commissioner through a viral post on X (formerly Twitter), detail the unsanitary conditions at Bahar Biryani Café and Shilpi Elite Restaurant and Bar. An inspection of Bahar Biryani Café revealed worrying lapses in hygiene and food safety protocols. The restaurant lacked the required medical fitness certificates and water analysis reports for food handlers, while no Food Safety Training and Certification (FoSTaC) trainees were present.
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Inspectors found open drains and standing water in the kitchen, and kitchen doors did not have insect-proof screens. Expired foods such as hot pepper sauce and chocolate syrup were discovered and thrown away, while synthetic food coloring used in food preparation was found in a storage room.
The restaurant also violated basic food storage norms by storing vegetarian and non-vegetarian food items together in the same refrigerator. The refrigerator was found to be unclean, with no temperature records kept, and with unlabeled food items stored inside. The team also found unlabeled MSG packets and discovered that raw chicken had been stored improperly in the refrigerator.
The task force team has conducted inspection in Chaitanyapuri area on 22.10.2024.
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*Medical fitness certificate and water analysis report are not available for food handlers.
*No FoSTaC trainees available.
* kitchen… pic.twitter.com/U36NGdGcSv
– Commissioner of Food Safety, Telangana (@cfs_telangana) 23 October 2024
Similar violations were found at Shilpi Elite Restaurant and Bar. The restaurant failed to produce its FSSAI license and pest control records, while its medical fitness certificate and water analysis report were missing. Inspectors found that the kitchen ceiling was sticky, and food in the refrigerator was not labeled or covered. Rotten vegetables including tomatoes and bitter gourd along with infestation of live cockroaches were found in vegetable storage and refrigerator areas.
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The inspection team also found food handlers without necessary protective gear like hair caps, gloves or aprons. Like Bahar Biryani Café, Shilpi Elite stored both vegetarian and non-vegetarian items together in the same refrigerator, raising health concerns.
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22.10.2024*Copy of FSSAI license not displayed in the premises.
*Pest control records, medical fitness certificates for food handlers and water analysis reports were not available with the FBO.… pic.twitter.com/UCHT2tsGaU
– Commissioner of Food Safety, Telangana (@cfs_telangana) 23 October 2024
Earlier this month, the Food Safety Department of Telangana inspected various restaurants near Sagar X Road in Hyderabad. They flagged establishments like Urban Maya Market – Family Bar & Kitchen and The Tree Stories Café for several hygiene issues. Read more here.
