KMC suspends licences of 40 Kolkata food outlets after hygiene crackdown

The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has suspended the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) licences of around 40 food establishments in the city following a week-long inspection drive.

Food safety officers examined 592 outlets and restaurants during the drive, collecting 161 samples and destroying approximately 1,224 kg of food deemed unfit for consumption. KMC Commissioner Smita Pandey said the suspensions are temporary, with outlets given two weeks to rectify violations.

"There is no provision for direct cancellation of licenses in the municipal law. For now, the licenses have been suspended for two weeks," Pandey said, adding that the concerned restaurants and food shops must take necessary steps to ensure accountability and compliance with food safety rules during this period.

Inspectors reported finding cockroaches inside a fridge at one establishment, along with irregularities in meat storage practices. Rotten meat, harmful colours, low-quality spices, and sweets past their expiry dates were discovered across various inspected premises. Pandey noted that most of the outlets facing suspension are large establishments, describing the exercise as an eye-opener.

Separately, the state government's Department of Health and Family Welfare has inspected over 5,000 food outlets. As of September 7, about 5,439 premises had been checked, with major irregularities found in 4,722 of them. Samples were drawn from 2,758 locations, sales were prohibited at 98 places, and licences were cancelled or suspended at 35 installations.

The intensified scrutiny comes weeks ahead of the Durga Puja festival, when food consumption and commercial activity typically surge across the state.