FSSAI Licenses of Seven KFC and Two Dominos Outlets Suspended in Hyderabad Over Food Safety Violations
Food safety authorities in Hyderabad have taken strict action against popular fast-food chains by suspending the operating licenses of seven KFC and two Dominos Pizza outlets. The action comes after enforcement teams found serious health and hygiene violations during a major inspection drive across the city. For thousands of residents who regularly order burgers, fried chicken, and pizzas from these well-known brands, the news has raised serious concerns about kitchen cleanliness and food quality.
The large-scale drive was carried out by thirteen special teams from the enforcement wing of the Telangana Standards Authority for Food and Essential Drugs, widely known as TG SAFE. Officials visited twenty-six outlets run by KFC and Dominos Pizza across different parts of the Hyderabad region to check if they were following basic food safety rules. What the inspectors found inside several kitchens shocked both the authorities and the public.
During the checks, food safety teams discovered cockroaches, houseflies, and rat droppings inside kitchen and storage areas. In several branches, expired food items were stored alongside fresh ingredients, and strong foul smells were coming from chiller rooms and cold storage units. Officials also noticed that kitchen staff were preparing food without wearing basic protective gear like hairnets and aprons, and some outlets were using dirty, greasy utensils.
One of the most alarming findings from the raids was the unauthorized use of synthetic magnesium silicate. According to officials, several outlets were mixing this chemical powder to filter old, used cooking oil so they could reuse it again for frying food. Reusing burnt cooking oil with unapproved chemicals poses a major health risk to customers. During the drive, enforcement teams seized around fifty-two kilograms of this substance and collected twenty food samples to test for adulteration.
Following the inspections, TG SAFE immediately suspended the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India licenses of nine outlets and ordered them to stop all business operations right away. The seven KFC outlets that lost their licenses are located at Madinaguda, Banjara Hills, Shilpa Kala Vedika in Hitec City, Inorbit Mall in Madhapur, Sindhi Colony in Secunderabad, Panch Mohalla in Charminar, and Moosarambagh. At the Moosarambagh branch, inspectors even found fungus on the walls, rusted chillers, and leaking water inside the cold room.
The two Dominos Pizza outlets whose licenses were suspended are located inside two of the busiest shopping hubs in the city, namely Sarath City Mall in Kondapur and Inorbit Mall in Madhapur. At the Kondapur mall branch, officials found cockroach infestations, expired items, and packing materials that lacked proper food-grade safety certificates. Meanwhile, the Madhapur mall branch had live cockroaches, rat droppings, and an untidy storeroom.
To make sure these outlets do not continue selling food quietly through mobile apps, officials announced that they will send the list of suspended branches to major online food delivery platforms like Swiggy and Zomato. These platforms will be asked to remove the nine outlets from their apps until their FSSAI licenses are officially restored after full compliance. This step is meant to protect online customers who cannot see the condition of a restaurant kitchen before placing an order.
Apart from the nine closures, the food safety department also took action against thirteen other branches that failed to meet proper standards. Improvement notices were issued to eight outlets, including four Dominos branches at Nizampet, Miyapur, Himayatnagar, and Malakpet, along with four KFC branches at Sarath City Mall in Kondapur, Karkhana, Himayatnagar, and Shaikpet. These branches have been given a chance to fix their hygiene issues and will face another inspection soon.
Furthermore, five other branches were served strict show-cause notices for serious violations. These include three Dominos outlets at Karkhana, Gachibowli, and Hitec City, as well as two KFC outlets at Nizampet and Gachibowli. Officials stated that heavy fines and further legal penalties will follow depending on the explanations given by the management of these outlets.
For ordinary families, students, and office workers in Hyderabad, big international food chains are often trusted more than small roadside eateries because people assume they follow strict global hygiene rules. However, these latest findings show that a big brand name does not always guarantee a clean kitchen. Regular checks by food safety authorities remain essential to keep restaurants accountable and ensure that the food served to the public is safe, fresh, and healthy.