Story perspectives

Kolkata suspends licenses of 40 eateries after inspections

9/9/2026

Center

KMC Suspends Licences

The Kolkata Municipal Corporation suspended licences of 40 restaurants and eateries in Kolkata on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, after a citywide food-safety inspection.
Commissioner Smita Pandey said 89 establishments received show-cause notices under Section 38 of the Food Safety and Standards Act.
State health officials and KMC jointly raided roughly 162 restaurants, food courts and sweet shops.
They collected 161 samples that revealed cockroach, rat, fungal growth and wall-paint mixed with biryani.

Left

KMC Suspends Licences

The Kolkata Municipal Corporation suspended the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India licences of about 40 restaurants and eateries in Kolkata on Tuesday, September 8, 2026.
Officials said the suspensions were intended to protect public health ahead of the city’s Durga Puja festival.
Inspectors examined 592 establishments, destroyed roughly 1,224 kg of food, and collected 161 samples.
State health officials inspected over 5,000 premises, finding major irregularities in 4,722 of them.

Blindspot

KMC officials said the licence suspensions were intended to protect public health ahead of Kolkata’s Durga Puja festival, a major cultural event.
Within this story's sources, this angle appears mainly in Left-leaning coverage and receives less attention in Center-leaning coverage.

History

Historical Context

The Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006 created the FSSAI, which began nationwide restaurant inspections; in 2008 Delhi’s health department checked 1,200 eateries, closing 30 % for violations. A 2009 FSSAI pilot, Safe Food, Tasty Food, expanded municipal enforcement, leading to Kolkata’s 2026 suspension of about 40 licences ahead of Durga Puja.

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KMC Suspends Licences

The Kolkata Municipal Corporation suspended licences of 40 restaurants and eateries in Kolkata on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, after a citywide food-safety inspection.
Commissioner Smita Pandey said 89 establishments received show-cause notices under Section 38 of the Food Safety and Standards Act.
State health officials and KMC jointly raided roughly 162 restaurants, food courts and sweet shops.
They collected 161 samples that revealed cockroach, rat, fungal growth and wall-paint mixed with biryani.

1 / 4