Visakhapatnam: A team of Regional Vigilance and Enforcement Department headed by additional superintendent of police G. Swaroopa Rani raided two restaurants in the city on Tuesday—Helapuri at Jagadamba Junction and Zeeshan at Madhurawada—and seized stale and leftover food from previous days, which were on sale.
Staff at both the establishments had been found serving their customers stale food, including chicken, fish, mutton and biryani by reheating them.
The surprise Vigilance raids followed complaints from consumers.
Samples of the seized food items have been sent to the Food Safety Laboratory. Legal action will be taken based on the laboratory's report.
Swaroopa Rani said both the restaurants have been fined ₹15,000 each.
Helapuri Restaurant owner Vijay Kumar, speaking to Deccan Chronicles, refuted the claims of serving state food. He clarified that they prepare dishes in the morning and reheat them upon customer orders due to time constraints.
Zeeshan Restaurant owner Sri Hari called allegations of a cockroach being found in the biryani as false. He confirmed that Vigilance officials have sent the food of his restaurant to the food laboratory.
Non-resident students of various colleges, speaking to Deccan Chronicle, expressed their concerns, as they rely heavily on restaurants, as they stay in hostels and PG accommodations.
