Lucknow, Sept. 19 -- The Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) issued 163 improvement notices after serious hygiene and food-safety lapses, including rodent infestation, fungal growth, contaminated food and expired non-vegetarian material were reported from fast-food outlets and restaurants during a large-scale inspection drive in Lucknow, Noida and Gorakhpur. The FSDA deployed 152 teams to inspect 233 food establishments during the drive. The licence suspension process was initiated against 13 establishments in Noida. "Establishments served improvement notices would be given time to rectify deficiencies. Failure to comply could lead to licence suspension or cancellation and further legal action, in accordance with food-safety provisions," FSDA commissioner Roshan Jacob said. In Lucknow, 52 teams inspected 78 food courts and fast-food establishments and issued 42 improvement notices. At a fast-food outlet in Alambagh, inspectors found inadequate drainage and unsatisfactory hygiene and sanitation. Rodent infestation and contamination of food items led to closure of the food business. At another outlet, unhygienic conditions and fungus on walls and food items were reported, prompting a recommendation for closure. More serious deficiencies were reported at another outlet in a prominent mall where inspectors found fungal growth in food, rodents, foul odour, suspected gravy contamination and waterlogging. The outlet was shut and its licence was suspended. In Noida, 57 teams inspected 71 establishments and issued 42 improvement notices. Inspectors reported fungus, rodents, filth, expired non-vegetarian food and poor kitchen hygiene at several outlets. The licence suspension process was initiated against 13 establishments. The violations included food being stored at incorrect temperatures, raw and cooked food kept together, dirty utensils, inadequate pest control, expired ingredients and improper storage. In Gorakhpur, 43 teams inspected 84 establishments and issued 79 improvement notices, the highest among the three cities....