Unsafe Food Detected: 12 restaurant chains, 36 food samples in this Indian city fail to meet regulatory standards, action taken, say sources

Unsafe Food Alert, Food Safety Update: As many as 36 food samples from 12  major restaurant chains including KFC, McDonald’s, Subway, Pizza Hut, Barista and Haldiram located in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, have been found to be of substandard quality, Zee Business learned from sources. The Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government’s Food Safety and Drug Administration initiated strict action against the restaurant outlets after the food samples failed its different food safety tests, covering aspects such as bacteria presence, stale ingredients and adulterated products. 

Food Safety Alert | Which restaurants are impacted? KFC, McDonald’s, Subway…

Restaurants belonging to as many as 12 popular restaurant chains have been impacted, including Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), McDonald’s, Haldiram, Pizza Hut, Barista, Burger King, Subway and Domino’s, according to sources. 

A detailed investigation by the food safety department exposed large-scale irregularities in select outlets of the 12 brands in the city.

Food Safety News Update | Strict action against restaurants not meeting food safety standards 

Strict action was reportedly taken against the dozen restaurants located in Lucknow. 

Food Safety Issues Detected at 12 Outlets of Popular Restaurant Chains Including Burger King, Barista, Biryani Blues, Wow Momo and Haldiram 

According to the sources, the following issues were found at the 12 restaurant outlets during investigations by the food safety authorities, along with the action taken:

1. KFC, Saharaganj – Dishes fried in reused oil – Notice issued

2. McDonald’s, Hazratganj – Synthetic color found in fried dishes – Notice issued

3. Dastarkhwan, Hazratganj – Stale mutton, foul-smelling gravy – Outlet sealed

4. Pizza Hut – Non-edible grade material in sauces – Notice issued

5. Burger King – Bacteria found in mayonnaise – Sample sent to lab

6. Subway – Chopped vegetables kept in the open – Notice issued

7. Domino’s – Expired items relabeled with new stickers – Notice issued

8. Biryani Blues – Excess artificial flavouring, sample failed – Fine likely

9. Barista – Bacteria found in ice – Notice issued

10. Chhappan Bhog – Adulteration in condensed milk – Samples collected

11. Haldiram’s – Substandard oil in snacks – Warning issued

12. Wow Momo – Foul smell from momo water, hygiene negligence – Notice issued

Action taken against restaurants 

The food safety authorities collected samples, sealed outlets, or issued notices or warnings at all of the 12 restaurants where instances of sub-standard food or irregularities in the manufacturing process were detected.  

Food regulator FSSAI and food safety in India

Domestic food regulatory authorities conduct random sampling across the length and breadth of the country to test the quality and standard of food products in order to ensure the safety of the public at large. 

These food samples are sent to various laboratories, including state and UT government labs, private labs, and referral labs administered by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), which  regulates and oversees the safety and quality of food products in the country. 

FSSAI’s main task is to ensure the availability of safe and nutritious food for human consumption by setting standards, issuing licenses and ensuring compliance with food safety norms.