Rats, fungus, expired ingredients! Nizam's, Arsalan, Karim's among 40 Kolkata eateries face licence suspension

The crackdown, carried out on Tuesday by the KMC health department along with the state health department, covered restaurants, eateries and sweet shops.

Several well-known establishments were among those facing action, including the 94-year-old Nizam’s restaurant, Shimla Biryani on the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass, a Karim’s outlet on Ripon Street, an Arsalan outlet in Nagerbazar, Don Giovanni’s, Balaram Mullick, Radharaman Mullick and Sri Hari.

162 establishments inspected across Kolkata

Municipal commissioner and Kolkata Municipal Corporation administrator Smita Pandey said hygiene remained the primary concern during the inspections.

“The experience was an eye-opening one. We had to serve show-cause notices to 89 establishments, notices under Section 38 of the Food Safety and Standards Act to 112 establishments, and suspension notices to 40,” Pandey said at a news conference at the KMC headquarters on Tuesday evening.

A joint team from the state health department and the KMC inspected around 162 premises during the drive.

According to sources, kitchens at several establishments were found in “unhygienic” conditions.

Food samples collected from some outlets allegedly showed the use of colours unsuitable for consumption in biryanis, stale food and fungus in raw food.

Some storage areas were also reportedly found infested with insects and rats.

Sweet shops among major areas of concern

Pandey said the condition of several sweet shops was particularly concerning, with the inspections highlighting the need for better hygiene ahead of the festive season.

“Mostly it was about hygiene. What was alarming was the condition of the sweet shops. The conditions there should be hygienic. They were not. Durga Puja is around the corner. We hope they will perform better and we will get better service,” she said.

The inspections also found alleged violations involving food ingredients and cooking oil.

In several restaurants, spices and other ingredients were reportedly being used after the expiry dates mentioned on their packets.

Some establishments also allegedly reused cooking and frying oil more than three times, in violation of health department regulations.

Govt steps up food safety enforcement

State food minister Ashok Kirtania said the authorities had intensified inspections as part of Consumer Safety Week.

“The previous government did not look into these aspects. Consumer Safety Week is on. We have taken this issue extremely seriously. We are trying to ensure the restaurants and sweet shops are preparing food and sweets with the guidelines in mind,” Kirtania said.

The authorities are also planning to hold a workshop with representatives of restaurants and eateries that have faced action.

Officials will explain food safety requirements and the importance of following prescribed guidelines.

“Bottled water supplied in the hotels and restaurants will also be tested. Those who clear the test will be allowed to operate; those who fail will be asked to shut down,” Kirtania said.

Meat, cottage cheese, khoya seized during raids

The wider enforcement campaign has also resulted in the seizure and destruction of food products allegedly found unfit for consumption.

On Monday, more than 10 kg of meat was seized and destroyed in Gariahat after officials found it unsuitable for consumption.

A simultaneous raid at Chhana Patti in Bowbazar led to the seizure of six kg of cottage cheese and five kg of khoya kheer, which were allegedly found unfit for consumption.

At Posta in Burrabazar, a major spice trading hub, inspectors found stocks being sold without the mandatory expiry dates printed on their packaging.

The state-wide campaign followed the launch of Consumer Safety Week on September 1 by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.

The state health department, health departments under corporations and municipalities, and the enforcement branch have since carried out raids at multiple locations.

Several districts found falling short of food safety standards

The latest action follows inspections conducted across Kolkata and neighbouring districts over the past week.

According to the figures cited, 215 establishments in South 24-Parganas, 128 in North 24-Parganas and 129 in Purba Burdwan failed to meet food safety criteria.

In Kolkata, 96 establishments, including eateries in Park Street and Topsia, were also found to be non-compliant.

The latest inspections in the city have now brought several prominent restaurants and food establishments under the food safety department’s scrutiny as authorities continue their enforcement drive ahead of Durga Puja.