Bengaluru food safety drive finds violations at star hotels, 35 samples sent for testing

Food Safety officials on Friday carried out a special inspection across 26 three-star and five-star hotels in Bengaluru, collecting 35 food samples for laboratory analysis and seizing expired food items after detecting multiple violations of food safety norms, officials said.

The inspection was conducted by the Food Safety Wing of the Health and Family Welfare Department under the directions of Health Minister U T Khader. Thirty teams of Food Safety officers participated in the city-wide drive.

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According to the department, the inspections covered all three-star and five-star hotels in Bengaluru Urban district, including those under the jurisdiction of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), to verify compliance with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011.

"During the special inspection drive, 26 three-star and five-star hotels in Bengaluru city were inspected. A total of 35 food samples were collected and sent to the Food Laboratory for analysis," the Health and Family Welfare Department said in a statement.

Officials said the drive uncovered several violations, including non-compliance with FSSAI labelling norms, improper labelling and misbranding of food products, storage of expired food items, unhygienic food handling and storage practices, fungal growth on vegetables, and failure to maintain separate storage for vegetarian and non-vegetarian food.

The food samples collected for laboratory testing included tea powder, chicken, mutton, fish, edible oil, chilli powder, turmeric powder, tomato sauce, lemon juice, cheese, papad, cashew nuts, ginger and milk.

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Among the key irregularities observed were unhygienic conditions in kitchens and food storage areas, meat products without FSSAI-compliant labels, and storage of expired dairy products, bakery items, meat and vegetables.

The department said notices have been issued to the concerned Food Business Operators (FBOs), and adjudication proceedings under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, will be initiated.

It added that legal action will be taken wherever violations have been detected, while further action against defaulting establishments will depend on laboratory test results and the applicable provisions of the Act.

The Department of Food Safety and Drug Administration has directed all Food Business Operators to strictly comply with the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the regulations framed under it.