Cockroaches found in chicken dish at Meridian Restaurant in Punjagutta
Hyderabad: A serious food safety violation occurred at the Meridian restaurant in Punjagutta, Hyderabad, when customers discovered cockroaches in both a chicken and a mutton dish. The incident, which was reported on Friday afternoon, has raised concerns and prompted urgent calls for action from food safety authorities.
Srikhande Umesh Kumar took to ‘X,’ formerly known as Twitter, to highlight the issue. He tagged the Commissioner of Food Safety, the Assistant Food Controller from the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), stating, “Despite multiple inspections, hygiene standards at local eateries remain a concern. Cockroaches were observed at Meridian restaurant, Punjagutta. Urging authorities @fssaiindia to take immediate action.”
Despite multiple inspections by @cfs_telangana and @AFCGHMC, hygiene standards at local eateries remain a concern. Cockroaches were observed at Meridian restaurant, Punjagutta. Urging authorities @fssaiindia to take immediate action.@aadabhyd @NeelimaEaty @GHMCOnline pic.twitter.com/zP7eFU9mrb
— Srikhande Umesh Kumar (@srikhande_umesh) August 2, 2024
Speaking with the Hyderabad Mail, Umesh Kumar expressed his frustration over the recurring unhygienic conditions. “Why are eateries not improving their conditions despite inspections by the Food Safety Department? Hoteliers need to be penalised for unhygienic practices, and if issues persist, their licenses should be revoked. The continuous problems highlight the need for stricter enforcement of food safety regulations and more rigorous penalties for non-compliance.”
Similar concerns have been raised about Bahar Cafe in KPHB Phase 3, where customers have reported rats roaming freely and consuming leftovers. Manish, @WoMotaWalaLadka, also took to ‘X,’ urging immediate intervention by tagging relevant authorities. His post stated, “Urgent action needed at Bahar Cafe! Hygiene is non-existent, with rats freely roaming tables, terrible food quality, and arrogant owners ignoring complaints. Please investigate ASAP!”
Adding to the series of troubling reports, a customer recently found a safety pin in a biryani from Mehfil Restaurant in Manikonda on June 29. This incident followed a previous complaint about bugs found in a biryani from Mehfil’s Kukatpally branch. Customer Sai Teja had earlier warned against ordering from Mehfil’s Kukatpally branch due to bugs in chicken pieces and shared his experience of seeking a refund from Swiggy.
