Only 32% consumers rate hygiene at air-conditioned restaurants good or excellent; 57% report seeing dirty premises: Survey

India's restaurant industry is facing a consumer trust deficit over food safety, with only 32% of consumers rating hygiene and food safety standards at air-conditioned restaurants in their area as good or excellent, according to a LocalCircles survey. The findings come amid intensified food safety inspections in Maharashtra and other states, putting renewed focus on hygiene standards at restaurants, particularly establishments charging a premium for dining.

The survey received over 91,000 responses from consumers across 244 districts. While 28% rated hygiene standards as good and only 4% as excellent, 42% described them as average. Another 9% rated standards as poor or very poor, while 10% said standards varied significantly between restaurants.

Over half report witnessing hygiene lapses

The concerns extend beyond perception. About 57% of consumers said they had personally seen dirty dining areas, kitchens or washrooms at air-conditioned restaurants in the past year. An equal 53% reported seeing cooking oil being reused, while another 53% had observed staff handling food unhygienically.

The survey also found that 50% had seen food heated or served in potentially non-food-grade plastic containers, 45% had encountered cockroaches, rats or flies and an equal proportion had witnessed poor segregation of vegetarian and non-vegetarian food. Another 40% had come across food that appeared stale or repeatedly reheated. Overall, more than nine in 10 respondents reported witnessing at least one of the listed hygiene or food safety violations.

Dirty kitchens, stale food top consumer concerns

Dirty kitchens, dining areas and washrooms emerged as the biggest concern, cited by 79% of respondents. This was followed by reuse of stale or leftover food at 74% and reuse of cooking oil at 72%. Expired or improperly stored ingredients worried 63%, while pests and poor staff hygiene were each cited by 61%.

LocalCircles said the findings indicate that "India does have a restaurant food safety issue", with consumer concerns broadly mirroring violations being reported during recent food safety inspections.

Consumers seek mandatory hygiene ratings

Consumers are also seeking greater transparency. About 74% want hygiene ratings to be publicly displayed at restaurants and on food delivery apps, while 72% favour quarterly hygiene inspections and 71% want higher penalties for repeat offenders. Another 68% want restaurants violating food safety norms to be publicly disclosed, while 66% support immediate licence suspension for serious hygiene violations.

LocalCircles has called for the FSSAI's currently voluntary Hygiene Rating Scheme to be made mandatory for all air-conditioned restaurants, with ratings displayed at restaurant entrances and on food delivery platforms. It is also urging authorities to ensure regular inspections, publish findings and equip food safety departments with functional Total Polar Compounds meters to enforce rules governing reused cooking oil.