Rotten food, rats, cockroaches and even wall paint in biryani: 40 Kolkata restaurants and sweet shops lose licences ahead of festive season

The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has suspended the food licences of 40 establishments, including several popular restaurants and sweet shops, after a week-long inspection drive found multiple food safety and hygiene violations across the city.

The crackdown was carried out ahead of the festive season and covered restaurants, hotels, food courts in shopping malls, markets and clubs. Officials said inspections uncovered rotten and contaminated food, fungal growth, poor storage practices and other hygiene issues.

Kolkata food safety drive inspects 592 establishments

KMC Commissioner Smita Pandey said the civic body has so far inspected 592 establishments, including sweet shops and bakeries, as part of the drive.


“As part of the inspections, 161 food samples were collected, and notices were issued to 112 entities. The licences of 40 establishments have been suspended,” she said.

Officials also destroyed 1,224 kg of food items that were found to be non-conforming during the inspections.

Rotten food, cockroaches and rats found

Poor hygiene emerged as one of the biggest concerns during the inspections, with several sweet shops among the establishments facing action.

Officials said they found cockroaches and signs of rat infestation in areas used to store food. Rotten food and fungal growth were also detected in food items.

In one particularly concerning case, officials reportedly found traces of wall paint mixed with biryani.

The inspection teams also detected the use of substandard spices and prohibited colours in some food items.

KMC food licence suspension will last two weeks

The licence suspensions are temporary and have initially been imposed for two weeks, according to Pandey.

“The affected establishments will have to undertake corrective measures, respond to the civic authorities and ensure compliance with prescribed food safety and hygiene standards. The civic law does not have a provision for direct cancellation of licences,” she said.

The establishments will therefore need to address the violations and comply with the required food safety and hygiene standards before further action is considered.

Fish and meat seized from Tangra restaurant

During the inspection drive, civic officials also seized around 500 kg of fish and meat that were allegedly being stored in unhygienic conditions at a popular restaurant in Tangra’s Chinatown area.

The action comes days after Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced a zero-tolerance approach towards fraudulent food practices, including the use of harmful colours in vegetables and fish.

Food safety inspections expand across West Bengal

Similar inspection drives were also carried out in other parts of West Bengal.

Officials conducted checks in areas including Madhyamgram and Salt Lake in North 24 Parganas, Shaktigarh in Purba Bardhaman, Digha in Purba Medinipur and Lataguri in Jalpaiguri.

With the festive season approaching, authorities are stepping up inspections of food businesses to identify unsafe food practices and improve hygiene standards.


Inputs from PTI