Hyderabad's iconic Shadab Hotel gets FSSAI licence suspended
TG SAFE suspended Shadab Hotel's FSSAI licence over hygiene violations; two other outlets were shut for operating without licences.
The Telangana Standard Authority for Food and Essential Drugs (TG SAFE) has suspended the FSSAI licence of the Madina Circle branch of Shadab Hotel, a landmark eatery near Naya Pul in Hyderabad. The action followed an inspection that found multiple violations relating to hygiene, sanitation, and the storage and handling of meat and other food items.
During the same special drive on Wednesday, enforcement teams comprising Food Safety Officers and police personnel inspected 19 cafes and snack points across the city. Two outlets — Dreamz Cafeteria in Bagh Lingampally and Asiatic Cafe in Panjagutta — were shut down for operating without valid FSSAI licences. Improvement notices were issued to 12 establishments, and show-cause notices were sent to five others.
Under the FSSAI framework, a licence suspension requires the business to stop operations but does not amount to a permanent cancellation. The operator must take corrective measures and inform the licensing authority. If a re-inspection confirms that the deficiencies have been addressed, the suspension can be revoked.
TG SAFE was formed in August by merging the Food Safety Department and the Drugs Control Administration into a single authority. The move is aimed at strengthening enforcement under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, especially as the number of licensed food businesses in the state has grown, with a large concentration in Hyderabad.
An FSSAI licence is mandatory for businesses involved in manufacturing, storing, transporting, distributing, or selling food in India. It can be obtained online through the Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS) portal. Depending on the scale of operations, applicants need either registration, a state licence, or a central licence. Licences are valid for one to five years and can be renewed online.
Industry experts note that obtaining a licence is only the first step. Restaurants must maintain hygiene standards continuously. Basic practices include proper handwashing, correct storage of raw and cooked food, labelling, maintaining appropriate temperatures, and keeping kitchens and dustbins clean.
Recent inspections have flagged issues such as expired food, spoiled vegetables, pest infestations, improper segregation of vegetarian and non-vegetarian items, and unhygienic kitchen conditions. Customers can track updates from TG SAFE after re-inspections. The Cyberabad Municipal Corporation has also begun issuing hygiene scores to restaurants based on kitchen cleanliness, food storage, pest control, and waste management.