TG SAFE Suspends Shadab Hotel Licence at Madina Circle After Food Safety Drive

The Telangana Standard Authority for Food and Essential Drugs (TG SAFE) suspended the FSSAI licence of Shadab Hotel's Madina Circle branch, located near the Naya Pul bridge in Hyderabad, on Wednesday, September 2. The enforcement action followed an inspection that uncovered multiple violations concerning sanitation, hygiene, and the storage and handling of meat and other food products.

Enforcement teams comprising Food Safety Officers and police personnel inspected 19 cafes and snack points across Hyderabad as part of the special drive. Alongside the action at Shadab Hotel, authorities shut down Dreamz Cafeteria in Bagh Lingampally and Asiatic Cafe in Panjagutta for operating without valid FSSAI licences. TG SAFE also issued improvement notices to 12 food establishments and served show-cause notices to five others.

Officials noted that recent inspections across the city have uncovered recurring violations, including spoiled vegetables, expired food, pest and rodent infestations, and unhygienic kitchen premises. Authorities also flagged instances where vegetarian and non-vegetarian food items were improperly handled or stored inside the same refrigerator without proper segregation.

Under the FSSAI regulatory framework, a licence suspension requires the establishment to halt operations immediately, though it does not constitute permanent cancellation. Food business operators must address the identified deficiencies, implement corrective measures, and notify the licensing authority. The suspension can be revoked if a subsequent re-inspection confirms that the establishment complies with the required standards.

TG SAFE was formed in August through the merger of the Food Safety Department and the Drugs Control Administration into a single administrative authority. The restructuring was designed to strengthen compliance under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 and the Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940, particularly given the large concentration of licensed food businesses operating across Hyderabad and the wider state.

Commenting on the regulatory standards, Sandeep Balasubramanian, head of the Hyderabad chapter of the National Restaurant Association of India, emphasized that holding an FSSAI licence requires ongoing compliance. He noted that the food and beverage sector employs large numbers of workers who require regular training on basic hygiene practices, including proper handwashing, correct food labelling, maintaining storage temperatures, and keeping dustbins covered.

Authorities stated that customers can follow inspection updates to verify whether penalised outlets have taken corrective steps during re-inspections. Meanwhile, the Cyberabad Municipal Corporation has started issuing hygiene scores to eateries based on waste management, pest control measures, food storage practices, and the cleanliness of kitchens and dining areas.