MUMBAI: Amid govt's crackdown on food safety violations, brands are stepping up checks in restaurant kitchens and strengthening compliance.
At Biggies Burger, internal audit protocols have been intensified across all outlets - the company's central quality assurance team now conducts unannounced operational audits at firm-owned and franchise-operated kitchens reviewing hygiene adherence, cold-chain compliance and raw material validity, said founder & CEO Biraja Rout. Store managers have also been mandated to complete daily digital checklists. "Opening and closing signoffs require visual photographic evidence of clean surfaces, oil quality, and storage areas uploaded directly to our central operations portal," Rout said.
A spokesperson at KFC India said customers seeking details about the brand's kitchen procedures and safety protocols are allowed to get a kitchen tour. Such tours were always available but given the current regulatory vigilance, the move could help the brand address consumer concerns.
The safety push by brands also comes ahead of the festive season which drives a major chunk of annual sales for businesses.
In recent months, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) department in states such as Maharashtra and Karnataka have launched a severe crackdown on eateries, canteens and online platforms over food safety and hygiene violations, sale of toxic items, sealing warehouses and suspending licenses of companies.
Prominent brands such as Domino's have come under fire. Even five-star hotels have come under scrutiny with FSSAI recently issuing notices to two such establishments in Delhi over hygiene violations.
