Telangana’s food safety authorities have suspended the FSSAI licences of seven KFC outlets in Hyderabad and ordered them to halt operations with immediate effect, after inspections turned up cockroach and rodent infestations, fungal growth, expired food products and unsafe food handling practices.
The Telangana Standards Authority for Food and Essential Drugs, known as TG-SAFE, ran a special enforcement drive across the CURE region on November 12. Thirteen teams made up of food safety officers and police personnel inspected 26 fast-food outlets during the exercise.
Officials recorded lapses in kitchen hygiene, food preparation and storage. At some establishments inspectors found cockroaches and houseflies, fungal growth on walls, greasy utensils, unclean food preparation equipment and rat droppings. Certain outlets were also found using magnesium silicate, an unauthorised substance, to filter used cooking oil for reuse.
In all, 13 KFC outlets face action from the drive: seven suspensions, four improvement notices and two show-cause notices.
Which KFC outlets have been shut?
The seven outlets whose licences were suspended are located at:
- Madinaguda-Miyapur
- Sindhi Colony, Secunderabad
- Punch Mohalla, Charminar
- Moosarambagh
- Banjara Hills
- Shilpa Kala Vedika, Hitec City
- Inorbit Mall, Madhapur
Improvement notices for four more outlets
Beyond the suspensions, TG-SAFE will issue improvement notices to four additional KFC outlets, located at Sarath City Mall in Kondapur, Karkhana, Himayatnagar and Shaikpet. Those outlets will be re-inspected to check whether they have fixed the shortcomings flagged during the drive and brought operations in line with prescribed food safety standards.
Show-cause notices at Nizampet and Gachibowli
Two KFC outlets, at Nizampet and Gachibowli, will receive show-cause notices over alleged serious violations. Authorities will review their responses before deciding on further action, including penalties.
Bakingo outlet discards 60 kg of cake bases
In a separate action in Hyderabad, officials discarded 60 kg of cake bases during an inspection at Bakingo’s Madhapur outlet over concerns that the ingredients were being used past their stated expiry date. The cake bases carried an expiry date of November 10, 2026, but were allegedly being used to prepare cakes sold to consumers with a declared shelf life running until November 12. A food safety official said the team inspected the premises, discarded the 60 kg of cake bases and submitted a report, with further action to follow based on the findings.