Expired products, improper storage facility found at PoshNosh Lounge & Bar in Jubilee Hills

Hyderabad: A surprise inspection was conducted at multiple food establishments in Jubilee Hills and Jangaon on February 1, 2025, uncovering serious hygiene violations and expired food products. The inspections, carried out under the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSS Act), 2006, led to the seizure and disposal of contaminated food items.

The three establishments inspected were Kishkinda Kitchen (Kake di Hatti) and PoshNosh Lounge & Bar in Jubilee Hills, and Shakti Milk and Milk Products in Jangaon. Authorities stated that further action would be taken against the violators.

Kishkinda Kitchen Found with Infestations and Expired Food

At Kishkinda Kitchen, located on Road No. 36, officials identified multiple lapses in food safety and hygiene. The violations included:

• Absence of water analysis reports, FOSTAC certificates, and medical records of employees.

• Unclean refrigerators with food waste accumulation.

• Clogged kitchen drains filled with food debris.

• Spoiled vegetables such as lemons and potatoes stored improperly.

• Live cockroach infestation in the kitchen area.

• Presence of rat feces in storage, indicating a rodent problem.

• Expired food items, including Real Fruit Orange Juice (1L – 08.01.2025), Button Mushrooms (1.6kg – 28.01.2025), and Sunflower Organo (600g – Oct 2024), among others.

• Food handlers working without gloves.

Expired License and Storage Issues at PoshNosh Lounge & Bar

The inspection at PoshNosh Lounge & Bar, also on Road No. 36, revealed that the establishment was operating with an expired food license, which had lapsed on December 20, 2024. Other violations included:

• Lack of water analysis reports, pest control records, and FOSTAC certification.

• Improperly maintained refrigerators with no defrosting or cleaning.

• Kitchen lacking proper drainage to remove food waste.

• An open kitchen area exposed to the outside without an insect-proof screen.

• Improper storage of food items, with non-vegetarian and vegetarian products placed together.

• Expired and misbranded Sichuan Pepper imported from Bangkok, with no importer details.

• Industrial-grade Citric Acid (1kg) meant for non-food use found in the storage.

• Infested loose split cashew nuts.

• Expired food items, including Soy Sauce (1L – Sep 2024), Rasam Powder (1kg – Jul 2024), Onion Powder (Oct 2024), and 18 packets of Papad.

Speaking about the findings, a senior food safety official said, “The presence of industrial-use citric acid and unidentified imported food products is a major concern. The establishment will face strict action for violating food safety regulations.”

Massive Dairy Contamination Discovered in Jangaon

At Shakti Milk and Milk Products in Jangaon’s Raghunathpally (M), the task force discovered serious hygiene violations in dairy production and storage. Key findings included:

• Food handlers not following basic sanitary measures.

• Rusted and unclean processing equipment.

• Presence of houseflies and mosquitoes in stored ghee.

• A dead lizard found near food storage, along with spider webs on the roof.

• Improperly stored raw materials and labelling defects on packed dairy products.

• 720 kg of curd discarded due to contamination, spoilage, and fungal infestation.

• 1,700 kg of curd seized over labelling violations and suspicions of substandard quality.

A food safety officer overseeing the inspection commented, “Pest infestations and contamination in a dairy unit pose a severe health hazard. Samples have been collected for lab analysis, and legal proceedings will follow.”

Further Action Underway

Officials confirmed that samples from all three establishments would undergo laboratory testing, and violators would face penalties under the FSS Act, 2006, and FSS Rules and Regulations, 2011.