Hyderabad: Multiple outlets of a popular barbecue franchise in the city have come under scrutiny after state food safety officers conducted surprise checks at ten locations on Tuesday. The inspections were carried out following a complaint received by the commissioner of food safety. The outlets inspected were located in AS Rao Nagar, Kompally, Medipally, Banjara Hills, Jubilee Hills, Gachibowli, Inorbit Mall, Miyapur, Vanasthalipuram, and Secunderabad.Investigators reported several hygiene violations, including dirty utensils, unclean floors, and unhygienic wash areas. Refrigerators were found neither cleaned nor defrosted, while chopping boards were in a degenerated state. Infestations were also detected, with cockroaches and flies spotted at Banjara Hills and Gachibowli branches. At Medipally, officials found expired items, while rotten fruits with fungal growth were reported at the Inorbit branch.Serious storage lapses were also noted. Raw food was placed directly on the floor alongside rat traps, flour at the AS Rao Nagar outlet was infested with beetles, and storage racks were contaminated with rodent droppings. Rusty and unhygienic storage containers were also observed.According to a post on X, several branches failed to comply with the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020. Unsafe items were seized, food samples were collected for testing, and notices were served to the management of the franchise.
