Maharashtra effect: Hotels, eateries in Delhi push for stricter audits

New Delhi: Hoteliers and restaurateurs in Delhi NCR are circulating Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) checklists with hotel and restaurant associations urging members to undertake internal audits and adhere to vendor registrations. This follows recent crackdowns on eateries in Maharashtra as well as two hotels in Delhi and greater scrutiny by consumers on hygiene lapses at restaurants on social media.

"Advisories have gone out to members and the checklist made available by FSSAI has been shared," said Garish Oberoi, treasurer of Hotel and Restaurant Association of Northern India (HRANI) and honorary secretary, Federation of Hotel and Restaurants Association of India (FHRAI). "All the hotels have been asked to abide by the checklist, and we have been doing this following the inspections in Mumbai."

"We have also met the FSSAI officials in Delhi as properties are being inspected and have assured them that our members are following the guidelines," he said. "Every hotel and restaurant needs to be careful about this considering the monsoon season as well. We are telling our members to be more vigilant and advising them on double checking all the products and ingredients being sourced."

The head of an international hotel chain said the company is adopting stricter measures and quality control checks in the national capital after FSSAI slapped notices on Andaz Delhi and the JW Marriott hotels in Aerocity last week.

"Branded five-star hotels follow the first-in, first-out principle as a policy, and there are multiple checks conducted at various levels," the executive said requesting anonymity. "Items are stocked and arranged date-wise and those bought first are consumed first. We are strengthening efforts at all levels following these checks."

Terming it as a "matter of concern", the general manager of a Delhi-based five-star hotel said it is becoming more stringent with its standard operating procedures. "All the vendors that we deal with are FSSAI-approved vendors but, we are also strengthening awareness and training for our teams around food safety," the executive said asking not to be named. "At times, things are not communicated properly by team members to authorities, and the issues get blown out of proportion."

In a social media post, FSSAI said last week inspections at the two hotels revealed "serious" food safety violations, including seizure of 87 kg of sweets that were past their expiry date at Andaz, and hygiene and sanitation deficiencies at JW Marriott. A spokesperson at Andaz Delhi Aerocity said the property has submitted a 'detailed' action taken report and has acted 'promptly' to address the observations raised.