Key Update

The Telangana food safety department has suspended the FSSAI licences of nine KFC and Domino’s Pizza outlets in Hyderabad after inspections uncovered serious food safety and hygiene violations, including pest infestations, expired food products and unsafe cooking practices. The Telangana Standards Authority for Food and Essential Drugs (TG SAFE) launched a special enforcement drive across the CURE region on November 12. Thirteen teams comprising food safety officers and police personnel inspected 26 KFC and Domino’s outlets.

Inspections Reveal Serious Hygiene Lapses

During the inspections, officials found cockroaches and houseflies, fungal growth on walls, greasy utensils, unclean food preparation equipment, rat droppings and unhygienic storage conditions. Inspectors also discovered that some outlets used magnesium silicate without authorisation to filter used cooking oil for reuse.

Authorities Suspend Licences of Nine Outlets

Following the inspections, the department suspended the licences of seven KFC outlets and two Domino’s outlets and ordered them to shut down immediately. The suspended KFC outlets operate at Madinaguda-Miyapur, Sindhi Colony in Secunderabad, Punch Mohalla in Charminar, Moosarambagh, Banjara Hills, Shilpa Kala Vedika in Hitec City and Inorbit Mall in Madhapur.

The two affected Domino’s outlets operate at Sarath City Mall in Kondapur and Inorbit Mall in Madhapur. Officials will share details of these establishments with online food delivery platforms, including Swiggy and Zomato, to facilitate their delisting until they regain their FSSAI licences.

Eight Outlets Face Improvement Notices

TG SAFE will issue improvement notices to eight additional outlets. These include four Domino’s branches in Nizampet, Miyapur, Himayatnagar and Malakpet, and four KFC outlets at Sarath City Mall in Kondapur, Karkhana, Himayatnagar and Shaikpet. The department will reinspect these establishments to verify whether they have addressed the violations and meet food safety requirements.

Five More Outlets Face Show-Cause Notices

The department will also issue show-cause notices to five outlets over alleged serious violations. These include three Domino’s branches in Karkhana, Gachibowli and Hitec City, and two KFC outlets in Nizampet and Gachibowli. Authorities will examine their responses before deciding on further action, including penalties.

Officials Collect Samples and Seize 52 Kg of Magnesium Silicate

During the enforcement drive, officials collected 20 food samples over suspected adulteration. They also seized approximately 52 kg of synthetic magnesium silicate allegedly used to filter cooking oil.

Source: The Times of India