Srinagar, May 11: The Food Safety Department on Monday sealed the well-known Lal Sheikh & Sons restaurant in Srinagar city after a customer allegedly found a cockroach in chicken biryani served at the eatery and subsequently lodged an online complaint with authorities.
According to the complaint, the customer had visited the restaurant on Saturday and ordered chicken biryani. The complainant alleged that while consuming the meal, he discovered a cockroach in the food.
In the complaint submitted online to the Food Safety Department, the customer further alleged that instead of apologizing over the incident, restaurant staff allegedly rebuked him when he pointed out the issue.
The complainant claimed that he was told not to visit the restaurant again and was allegedly forced to pay the bill despite raising objections regarding the contaminated food.
The customer also attached photographs along with the complaint, following which the Food Safety Department took cognizance of the matter and initiated action against the restaurant.
Officials later sealed the restaurant as part of the department’s enforcement measures.
The incident has once again brought food hygiene standards in Srinagar’s restaurant sector under scrutiny, particularly as authorities have already launched multiple inspections and enforcement drives against eateries accused of serving unhygienic food.
Officials said this was not the first such action in recent months, adding that dozens of restaurants, food outlets, and eateries across Kashmir have so far been sealed or penalized over unhygienic conditions, poor food handling, and violations of food safety norms.
The Food Safety Department has intensified inspections across the Valley amid rising public complaints regarding food contamination and hygiene lapses in restaurants and street food outlets.
Authorities have repeatedly urged restaurant owners to strictly follow hygiene protocols and food safety standards to avoid legal action. [KNT]
