The story so farShadab Hotel is a landmark restaurant just beyond the Naya Pul bridge in Hyderabad. On Wednesday, September 2, the Telangana Standard Authority for Food and Essential Drugs (TG SAFE) suspended the FSSAI licence of the iconic hotel’s Madina Circle branch after an inspection found multiple violations related to hygiene, sanitation and the storage and handling of meat and other food articles.As part of the drive, TG SAFE also shut down two other snack points, Dreamz Cafeteria in Bagh Lingampally and Asiatic Cafe in Panjagutta for operating without valid FSSAI licences.Enforcement teams comprising Food Safety Officers and police personnel conducted a special drive at 19 cafes and snack points across Hyderabad on Wednesday. TG SAFE issued improvement notices to 12 establishments and show-cause notices to five others.What happens when violations are found? What does suspension mean?Depending on the nature of the violations, food businesses can be issued notices and directed to take corrective measures. More serious or continuing violations can lead to action against the FSSAI licence. Suspension means that the business has to stop operations but does not necessarily mean permanent cancellation of a licence. Under FSSAI’s framework, a licence can be suspended following non-compliance with an improvement notice. The food business operator is required to take corrective measures and inform the licensing authority. During a re-inspection, if the authority is satisfied that the deficiencies have been addressed, the suspension may be revoked.What is TG SAFE and why is it inspecting restaurants?TG SAFE was formed in August by merging the Food Safety Department and Drugs Control Administration, bringing the two departments under a single administrative authority. The merger was aimed at strengthening compliance and enforcement under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 and the Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940, particularly as the number of licensed food business operators in the State has increased, with a large concentration in Hyderabad. Why do restaurants need FSSAI licence?An FSSAI licence is an authorisation issued by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India to food businesses involved in the manufacture, storage, transportation, distribution or sale of food products in India. The licence or registration can be obtained through the Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS) online portal.Applicants must determine whether their business requires registration, a State licence or a Central licence based on the nature and scale of their operations. They then submit the prescribed application form, upload the required documents and pay the fee. Depending on the nature of the business, FSSAI may scrutinise the application and conduct an inspection of the premises before granting the licence.FSSAI licences and registrations can be obtained for periods ranging from one to five years, depending on the applicable category and rules, and can be renewed online through FoSCoS.What does having an FSSAI licence mean for a restaurant?Obtaining an FSSAI licence does not end a restaurant’s food-safety obligations. Food businesses are required to maintain hygiene and sanitation standards on an ongoing basis, said Sandeep Balasubramanian, Head of Hyderabad chapter of National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI).“Food safety requires continuous education and that the industry needs to work with institutions and authorities to ensure that basic hygiene practices remain non-negotiable. The food-and-beverage industry employs a large number of workers who require regular training and guidance on food-safety practices,” he added,Some of the basic practices that food handlers need to follow include proper handwashing, ensuring soap is available at wash basins, storing raw and uncooked food correctly, labelling food items, maintaining appropriate storage temperatures, keeping floors clean and ensuring dustbins are covered.What violations have been uncovered so far?During recent inspections conducted by TG SAFE and other food safety authorities, officials have flagged violations including expired food, spoiled vegetables, pest and rodent infestations, improper storage of vegetarian and non-vegetarian food, use of the same refrigerator for storing vegetarian and non-vegetarian food, unhygienic kitchen premises and improper handling of food.What should customers look for?Customers can also follow updates issued by TG SAFE and other food safety authorities after inspections. According to a food safety officer, authorities may post updates following re-inspections, including whether establishments have taken corrective measures to address the violations identified during an earlier inspection.The Cyberabad Municipal Corporation (CMC) has also started issuing hygiene scores for restaurants based on multiple parameters, including cleanliness of kitchens and dining areas, food storage practices, pest control measures and waste management.