Kolkata’s Food‑Safety Crackdown: 40 Outlets Lose FSSAI Licences

The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) wrapped up a massive, week‑long food‑safety sweep on Wednesday, and the results were stark. Out of the 592 eateries they inspected, about 40 saw their Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) licences put on hold.

Commissioner Smita Pandey explained that the authorities have handed the suspended outlets a two‑week window to sort out the violations. “There’s no provision for outright cancellation under municipal law, so we’ve opted for a temporary suspension,” she said, adding that the clock starts now.

What triggered the action? Inspectors uncovered everything from cockroaches nesting inside a fridge to rotten meat, discoloured food items and spices past their prime. In a few places, sweets were found well beyond their expiry dates, and the way meat was stored raised serious red flags.

In total, the KMC team collected 161 samples and destroyed roughly 1,224 kg of questionable food. The findings weren’t limited to tiny stalls; many of the suspended licences belong to larger, well‑known outlets, making the whole exercise an eye‑opener for the city’s food‑service sector.

The state’s Department of Health and Family Welfare is running a parallel campaign, having inspected more than 5,000 premises so far. By Sept 7, 5,439 establishments had been checked, and the majority of serious irregularities mirrored those flagged by KMC.

For the affected restaurants, the next two weeks are critical. They must overhaul their hygiene practices, rectify storage issues and prove compliance, or risk a full licence cancellation that could shut doors permanently.