32 kg unlabelled noodles, 10 kg expired chicken, and live cockroach found at these restaurants

When we dine at restaurants, we usually feel assured that the food is hygienic and free from expired ingredients, unlike the potential risks of eating at street kiosks. However, recent reports revealed a shocking incident in Secunderabad (Telangana), where a restaurant was found with kilos of unlabelled noodles and expired raw chicken, leaving food officials stunned. Read on for the full details.


Food safety inspectors of Secunderabad recently did a surprise inspection at Golden Dragon Restaurant in Parklane and they found 8 kilos of raw chicken that had expired on December 15 and 2 kilos of boneless chicken legs that had expired the day before the inspection (December 17). They also seized 2 kilos of noodle packets as they did not have any labels on them. As per reports, the Food Business Operator (FBO) did not provide Water Analysis Reports, Employee Health Records and FoSTac certificates of employees too. It is also said that there were synthetic food colours that officials suspected of being used for food preparation.



The team that did the inspection also noted that the refrigerators were unhygienic and food items kept inside them were unlabelled. Moreover, vegetarian and non-vegetarian food articles were stored together in the fridge. The officials flagged other issues on the premises too. The floor of the kitchen was found to be slippery. Those handling the food handlers were not wearing aprons, hair caps, gloves etc. The windows had not been fitted with insect-proof screens. Take a look at the social media post by the Commissioner of Food Safety, Telangana.


At Sarvi Restaurant and Bakery on MG Road in Secunderabad, the officials found that food articles like cashew biscuits, Osmania biscuits, Bournvita biscuits, etc. were unlabelled, lacking key details like manufacturing and best-before dates. The task force also discovered that the containers used for making cakes were rusted and the basic hygiene of the kitchen was not maintained.


As per another post on X, on the same day, the task force also inspected Begumpet near Secunderabad. At Chillies Restaurant in Paradise Circle, they observed a live cockroach infestation in the kitchen. And some of the food items were not covered and none of the food articles had labels on them. Food handlers were found without wearing hair caps, gloves etc. The flooring was found to be patchy and littered with food waste in some places. And drains in the kitchen were found to be clogged with food waste. This is not the first time the cleanliness of commercial kitchens has raised major concerns, which calls for stringent actions to prevent such cases.

This is not for the firs time that such cases have been highlighted. In the month of September, food safety officials inspected 140-year old Niamz Club of Hyderabad and discovered that the owners have been running the food business without a valid FSSAI license. Also, some of the documents of the clubs were found missing, which included Medical Fitness Certificates for its food handlers, Pest Control Records for the premises and the Water Analysis Report for the RO water used for food preparation.

In the most recent news, as per the X update by Commissioner of Food Safety, Telangana, the task force conducted inspections in dairy units in Hyderabad on 20.12.2024 and they found missing employee health records and fostac certificates of food handlers. The ceilings were found to be flaky at some places. Flooring was found to be patchy. The unit was not equipped with proper drains. Also, they found expired food products including artificial flavoring agents - vanilla (500 ml - expired on 10/2020), lemon (500 ml - expired on 18.05.2024) and lemon (500 ml - expired on 12/2020).

In the past, many such restaurants have been inspected across India where the rules and regulations for running the restaurants were flouted and authorities have take strict action against them.


What do you think of such carelessness on the part of restaurants? Share your thoughts in comments section.