Nine Franchise Outlets Shut Down for Serious Food Safety Violations
Domino's and KFC locations in Hyderabad are facing suspension due to significant health code breaches found during inspections.
In a decisive move to uphold food safety standards, the Telangana Standards Authority for Food and Essential Drugs (TG SAFE) has put a halt to operations at nine outlets of Domino’s and KFC in Hyderabad. This suspension follows alarming findings from recent inspections that highlighted various health code violations.
Details of the Violations
The inspections unveiled several concerning issues, including pest infestations, expired food items, and inadequate kitchen conditions. For instance, at the KFC location in Madinaguda, officials reported a foul smell, water leakages, and the improper use of magnesium silicate in reused cooking oil, which poses significant food safety risks.
Additional breaches were noted at various KFC outlets, including:
- Sindhi Colony: Infestation of houseflies and ongoing use of unauthorized filtering substances.
- Punch Mohalla: Unsanitary conditions in chiller rooms and continued use of magnesium silicate.
- Moosarambagh: Cockroach presence, rust issues in the chill room, and fungal growth.
- Banjara Hills: Waterlogging and inadequate cleanliness of preparation areas.
- Shilpa Kala Vedika: Unclean food preparation equipment.
Domino’s Outlets Also Cited
Similarly, inspections of Domino’s outlets found serious breaches that necessitated immediate action:
- Sarath City Mall: Presence of cockroaches, expired food products, and lack of a food-grade certificate for packaging.
- Inorbit Mall: Food handlers operating without required hairnets and aprons, alongside general cleanliness issues.
In addition to these findings, officials discovered rat droppings and live cockroaches, as well as a disorderly storeroom at the Domino’s outlet. In total, eight outlets will be subject to improvement notices, while three Domino’s locations and two KFC outlets will receive show-cause notices due to serious infractions.
Future Actions and Compliance Checks
The enforcement action is part of a larger initiative, wherein 13 inspection teams—comprising Food Safety Officers and law enforcement—conducted checks across 26 locations within the area. During this drive, they collected 20 food samples suspected of being adulterated and confiscated approximately 52 kg of synthetic magnesium silicate.
Officials have pledged to revisit the affected outlets to ensure compliance with the necessary food safety regulations. The regulatory body aims to reinforce accountability in the food service industry and diminish health risks to consumers.
"The safety of our food supply is paramount, and we will continue to act decisively against breaches of food safety regulations," said a TG SAFE representative.
