Karnataka tightens food safety rules as hotel inspections uncover tonnes of unsafe food

The Karnataka Food Safety and Drug Administration Department on Tuesday issued a detailed advisory to hotels, restaurants, catering services and other food business operators, directing them to strictly comply with food safety and hygiene norms amid intensified inspections across the state.

The circular, issued by the Commissioner, Food Safety and Drug Administration, Government of Karnataka, on August 11, laid down requirements covering food handling, storage, transportation, personal hygiene, water safety, pest control and waste management.

The advisory comes after a three-day special enforcement drive across Bengaluru from August 7 to August 9, during which food safety officials inspected 60 three-star and five-star hotels and seized more than 1,000 kg of food and other products for alleged violations.


Also read: Bengaluru food safety drive: 60 star hotels inspected, 1,089 kg food seized



The department deployed 30 teams during the drive and collected 77 food samples for laboratory testing, according to the health and family welfare department. Officials found violations including improper labelling, misbranding, expired food products, improper storage of meat, fish and poultry, unhygienic food preparation areas, mould-affected vegetables and inadequate segregation of vegetarian and non-vegetarian food.

The department said it seized 640 kg of mutton, chicken and fish over alleged mislabelling and missing or expired manufacturing and expiry dates. Another 276 kg of rotten or mould-affected vegetables, 45 litres of expired milk and curd, 12 kg of expired bakery products, 67 kg of mislabelled or expired cereals and other food products, and 49 litres of used cooking oil were also seized.

The state's Food Safety and Drug Administration Department has now directed food business operators to ensure that their premises are clean, hygienic and properly maintained. Food-contact surfaces, utensils and equipment must be cleaned regularly, while food handlers are required to wear clean uniforms, headgear and gloves and maintain personal hygiene, it instructed.

Only good-quality raw materials should be used, the advisory said, with expired and substandard ingredients to be discarded. Food items must be properly labelled and stored in hygienic conditions.

The department has also directed businesses to ensure that raw and cooked food are stored separately to prevent cross-contamination. Hot food should be maintained above 60°C, while cold and frozen food should be kept below 4°C and -18°C, respectively.

Separate utensils and containers should be used for vegetarian and non-vegetarian food, according to the advisory.

Also read: Zepto warehouse sealed in Bengaluru over food safety violations

Food handlers must undergo health check-ups and sick workers should not be involved in food handling. Businesses have also been directed to ensure frequent handwashing and appoint a Food Safety Supervisor certified under FoSTaC.

The advisory also covers food transportation, stating that vehicles used to transport food should be clean and covered. Separate transportation for raw and cooked food has been advised, with appropriate temperature control during transit.

The authority would approve only potable water for drinking which should be used for cooking and cleaning, while water tanks should be cleaned and tested regularly. Clean toilets with adequate handwashing facilities should also be provided for staff and customers.

Food businesses have been directed to maintain pest-free premises and carry out regular pest-control measures. Waste bins should remain covered and be cleared regularly, with open dumping prohibited and waste disposed of through authorised agencies.

The department has further stressed the need to prevent cross-contamination and immediately discard food showing fungal growth. Food businesses have also been advised to display information on allergens and provide nutritional information wherever applicable.

The advisory specifically states that 'used cooking oil should not be reused' and must be disposed of through authorised agencies.

The department said violations would attract action under the applicable food safety law, including penalties and closure.

"All hotels, restaurants, canteens and catering units must follow these guidelines. Non-compliance will lead to legal action including closure and penalties," the Commissioner said in the release.

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The advisory has been circulated to district food safety officers for implementation and public awareness. The department further said that inspections and enforcement action would continue to ensure compliance with food safety standards.

Separately, the Bengaluru North City Corporation (BNCC) imposed a Rs 25,000 penalty on quick-commerce company Zepto for failure to maintain cleanliness at its location. The civic body said it would continue taking strict action against violations related to cleanliness and waste management.