Hyderabad, 15 October
Tooth Cap Found in Mandi at Hyderabad Eatery, Food Safety Notice Served
A diner has alleged that he found a tooth in a mutton mandi dish at The Joint Al Mandi restaurant in Madhapur, Hyderabad. Following an inspection, Food Safety officials confirmed that the object was a tooth cap and issued a show-cause notice to the restaurant under the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act.
The incident came to light after Shyam Prasad visited the restaurant with a friend for lunch. The two had travelled to Madhapur for work at an institute and ordered mutton juicy mandi.
Diner Claims Tooth Cap Found in Mutton Mandi
According to Prasad, he and his friend were midway through their meal when they noticed a small, decayed tooth-like object in the food. Tooth Cap Found in Mandi at Hyderabad Eatery, Food Safety Notice Served.
When they brought it to the attention of the restaurant staff, the employees initially reportedly described it as a mutton bone. Prasad said the two diners insisted that the object be examined.
According to his account, the staff later identified it as a human tooth, apologised and offered them a complimentary item before asking them to leave.
Diner Alleges Restaurant Owner Did Not Apologise
Prasad said he vomited after leaving the dining area and going downstairs. He subsequently called the restaurant and spoke with the owner, who allegedly promised to call him back but did not do so for nearly 30 minutes.
The two men then returned to the restaurant to raise the issue again.
According to Prasad, the owner offered them a complimentary item or anything else they wanted but also said they were free to file a complaint wherever they wished. Prasad further alleged that the owner referred to the restaurant’s registration and claimed to know people who could handle the matter.
Prasad said the owner did not apologise to them. These statements reflect the diner’s account of the incident.
Food Safety Officials Inspect Madhapur Restaurant
Following the complaint, Food Safety officials inspected the restaurant.
Madhapur Food Safety Officer Niharika told that officials found several food handlers with missing teeth and cavities during the inspection. Tooth Cap Found in Mandi at Hyderabad Eatery, Food Safety Notice Served
The officer said officials could not establish how the tooth cap had entered the food because there were no cameras in the kitchen to help determine what had happened.
A show-cause notice was subsequently served on the restaurant under Section 54 of the Food Safety and Standards Act. Tooth Cap Found in Mandi at Hyderabad Eatery, Food Safety Notice Served.
What Does Section 54 of the FSS Act Say?
Section 54 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, deals with food containing extraneous matter. It provides for penalties where food is found to contain such matter, subject to the applicable legal provisions.
The notice gives the restaurant an opportunity to respond to the food safety concerns raised in the case. Further action will depend on the findings of the authorities and the applicable legal process.
The incident has raised concerns about food hygiene and quality control at restaurants. Consumers who find foreign objects in food can report the matter to the relevant Food Safety Department for investigation.
The exact circumstances in which the tooth cap entered the dish have not been established in the information available about the case.