FSSAI issues notice to Delhi's JW Marriott, Juniper Hotels over misprinted license, food hygiene

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issued a notice to JW Marriott and Andaz Aerocity of Juniper Hotels Pvt Ltd. in Delhi on Wednesday following an inspection that found serious deficiencies in food safety, hygiene, sanitation, storage and labelling practices at the hotel.

Regulatory samples were collected during the inspection at JW Marriott, with further action to follow based on compliance and the outcome of sample analysis.

The FSSAI inspection team found that the food business operator was carrying out retail and relabeller activities without the requisite endorsement in its FSSAI licence. This included retailing food products under the JW Marriott brand name.


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The inspection also found labelling deficiencies in pre-packaged food products, including misprinted FSSAI licence numbers and the non-declaration of the complete manufacturer's address. The hotel's FSSAI licence was also not displayed at a prominent place on the premises.

Certain food products and materials, including paneer, khoya, chana masala and chilli, were found without the requisite licence or appropriate endorsement available for verification.

The inspection flagged serious hygiene and sanitation issues, including unclean utensils and food-contact surfaces, visible particulate matter in drinking water, inadequate pest control, cockroaches and fruit flies, and poor maintenance of food premises.

Spoiled and fungally affected food, improper storage practices and risks of cross-contamination were also observed. These included fungal growth on apples, rotten tomatoes, uncovered food, damaged storage containers, inadequate segregation of vegetarian and non-vegetarian food, improperly stored cut vegetables and food products not maintained under prescribed storage conditions.

Various kitchens and food preparation areas, including the Chinese, Indian, Italian and bakery kitchens, showed deficiencies such as pest infestation, non-operational exhaust systems, poor sanitation, inadequate allergen segregation, defective storage containers, improper food identification and inappropriate food storage.

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Further deficiencies were observed in the water bottling area, dry store, coffee shop and vegetable preparation area. These included rusting of the drinking-water storage tank, deficiencies in imported-food labelling, use of the term "Energy Drink" requiring regulatory verification, poor sanitation and fruit-fly infestation.

Overall, the inspection identified deficiencies relating to licensing and kind-of-business compliance, labelling, food storage, temperature control, sanitation, pest control, personal hygiene, prevention of cross-contamination, allergen management, traceability, maintenance and potable water.

During the inspection, regulatory samples of Fric Bergen Honey, D'lecta Skimmed Milk Dairy Whitener, drinking water, red velvet sponge, Angoori Rasmalai, khoya, paneer and Sonth Chutney were collected. Surveillance samples were also lifted, while notices were issued to the food business operator wherever applicable.

FSSAI has also issued a notice to Juniper Hotels Pvt Ltd, which operates Andaz Aerocity in Delhi, following inspections that uncovered food safety violations. Regulatory samples were collected and further action will follow based on compliance and sample analysis.

At Juniper Hotels Pvt Ltd, the FSSAI inspection found several serious food safety and hygiene deficiencies, including improper segregation of vegetarian and non-vegetarian food, pest activity, poor sanitation, inadequate food-handler hygiene and improper food storage practices.

Officials found expired food products, including around 87 kg of expired sweets, an expired cake base and expired bread packets. The expired sweets were discarded on the spot. The inspection also flagged inadequate temperature monitoring, improper allergen segregation, poor waste management, structural and maintenance issues, and inadequate supplier verification and receiving practices.

The inspection found instances of cross-contamination and violations of vegetarian and non-vegetarian food segregation norms. Vegetarian and non-vegetarian cutting boards were found immersed together in the same water container in the Anayama Kitchen, while vegetarian burners were being used to prepare non-vegetarian food in the Room Dining Kitchen.

The inspection also revealed severe hygiene and pest-control issues, including active cockroaches near freezers, houseflies, mosquitoes in the grinding room and spider webs. Officials also found a gutka packet inside the bottling plant area.

In addition to expired food stock, officials observed duplicate date-marking applied over expired bread packaging. Severe unpleasant odours were also reported, while chillers were situated directly between two bathrooms, with exhaust venting into the chiller section.

The hotel was also found to have lapses in procurement and supply-chain practices. According to the inspection findings, it had not carried out proper supplier verification, including checks of vendors' FSSAI licences, and did not have a tracking system for incoming raw materials to monitor receiving dates and shelf life.

During the inspection, regulatory and surveillance samples of cow ghee, veg mayonnaise, creamy coconut milk powder, honey twigs, yellow masoor dal, tomato sauce, orange marmalade and coconut cookies were collected for analysis.

The food business operator has been directed to take immediate corrective action on the non-compliances and submit a compliance report with supporting evidence. Further regulatory action will be taken under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and regulations made under it, based on compliance and sample analysis.