Kolkata: Following the suspension of licences of 40 eateries, restaurants across the city have turned to social media to reassure customers, counter misinformation and clarify whether particular outlets have been shut, amid fears that the controversy could cause a setback to their businesses.The posts come amid growing confusion over which establishments have faced action and the reasons behind it. While some restaurants have sought to make it clear that their outlets remain open, others have distanced themselves from similarly named establishments or clarified issues raised during inspections. For businesses with multiple outlets, the concern is that confusion over one branch could affect customer trust in the brand.Shimla Biryani was among the first to directly address customers, saying its outlets at EM Bypass, Lake Town and Chinar Park were open and serving guests as usual, with valid licences and permissions in place. “We have been receiving several calls and messages from customers over the last 24 hours asking whether our outlets were open. We are clarifying that only the Topsia outlet is shut and other outlets are open. Any forwarded message or social media post claiming that these outlets have been closed is not correct,” the social media post read.“Hygiene and food safety have always been our priority and we support the efforts of the state govt and KMC to strengthen food safety standards,” said Nafees Ahmed, manager of the eatery.Koshe Kosha, too, issued a social-media clarification, saying the organisation remained fully operational and committed to hygiene, food safety and quality. “There has been misinformation about some of our restaurants being raided and subsequently suspended. We urge customers to rely only on official channels for accurate information,” read the post.For businesses with multiple outlets, the concern extends beyond the branch directly affected by any civic action, said the co-owner of an eatery with several branches across the city and suburbs. “The impact is not limited to a particular branch. We have several branches across the city with thousands of loyal customers. Something like this dents their trust and impacts our association,” said the co-owner.In another instance of confusion arising from similar names, Girish Chandra Dey & Nakur Chandra Nandy issued a clarification after receiving calls from customers. The post said the establishment referred to in those reports was not its shop and pointed out that its only outlet is at 56, Ramdulal Sarkar Street.“Inspecting officials made no finding or declaration that any items were spoiled, rotten, or unfit for consumption. Furthermore, no stock samples were collected for laboratory testing. Reports claiming that 500 kg of stock was affected are factually inaccurate,” said Edwin Hsieh of Big Boss in Tangra.Arsalan, meanwhile, issued a separate clarification on Wednesday following concerns surrounding the preparation of its Achari Kebab. “As the name suggests, the preparation uses an achari-style marinade, characterised by tangy and pickled notes. The naturally tangy aroma of the marinade should not be interpreted as an indication of spoilage of the meat,” said Hamza Ahsan, COO, Arsalan Restaurant and Caterer.(With inputs by Sarthak Ganguly)
