​Popular eating joints in India that have violated food safety and sanitation norms

Are you someone who loves dining out, but are worried about the quality of the food served to you? A list of popular eating joints raided across India have broken the trust of several customers who associated these places with good food and happy moments. Here are some of the popular eateries that were silently playing with customers' trust and violating norms.

Popular for their Ghee Podi and Garlic Roast Dosa, Rameswaram Cafe is one of the most iconic restaurants in South India. But recently the cafe has been under the radar for violating food safety norms and using unlabeled and expired foods, which raised concerns over food and hygiene. Apart from that the cafe was in news for a low intensity bomb blast, which left many injured and is still a matter of investigation for NIA (National investigative agency).

Murthal’s iconic restaurant also faced the wrath of customers after the raids conducted to check for the food safety, sanitation and hygiene norms. The eateries were caught violating both food and hygiene norms. As power reports in popular digital daily, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) found that the waste collection and sewage treatment around these eateries indicated violation and

There was a necessary infrastructure need in terms of collection and treatment of sewage and solid waste.

Another cafe that recently came under the radar of the Telangana Food Safety Department officials discovered multiple violations. The restaurants were found using expired and unlabeled food items. The Food Safety Department stated, "100 kg of urad dal expired in March 2024 (worth INR 16K), 10 kg of Nandini curd, and eight liters of milk worth INR 700 were found expired and present in the kitchen." These items were discarded on the spot by the authorities and left the restaurant in bad light.

Karachi Bakery is yet another iconic brand that faced the wrath of customers after the news of food violation and raids, wherein it was found that the expired stocks of Rusks, biscuits, candy, chocolate cakes, toasts and buns worth ₹5,200, which were discarded by the authorities. Most of the raw materials used in the bakery were expired and there was no display of dates on the desserts and savories, which was

violating the FSSAI regulations. Moreover, multiple unlabelled products were found violating the FSSAI Act."6 May 2024.

With a chain of restaurants in India and abroad, the iconic Saravana Bhavan, CP outlet was also in news for violation of food safety as one of the customers came across a dead lizard in the bowl of Sambhar.

Starbucks India too came under the radar of FSSAI in 2015, for not using FSSAI-approved ingredients. As per a PTI report, Starbucks back then said that they are suspending the use of ingredients not approved by the food regulator FSSAI in certain products served at its India outlets. The report also stated that they (Starbucks) didn't reveal the details of the ingredients. The company further stated that they will use other FSSAI-approved ingredients in beverages that meet Starbucks global standards in order to continue delivering the unique experiences.

This Gurugram based cafe recently went viral for violating food safety norms, when 5 diners started vomiting blood after consuming a meal, due to excessive levels of dry ice. However, no casualties were reported, but the incident shook the masses. This led to a major hue and cry over excessive use dry ice and other chemical based ingredients.

Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water before handling food.
Use separate cutting boards for raw meats, poultry, and produce to prevent cross-contamination.
Cook foods to their proper internal temperatures: 165°F for poultry, 145°F for red meat or fish.
Refrigerate perishable foods within 2 hours (or 1 hour if the temperature is above 90°F).
Thaw frozen foods in the refrigerator, microwave, or under cold running water, never at room temperature.
Avoid eating raw or undercooked eggs, meats, and seafood, especially for vulnerable populations like children, elderly, and pregnant women.
Regularly clean and sanitize kitchen surfaces, utensils, and cutting boards to prevent the spread of harmful bacteria.