Cockroaches, Expired Food and Fungal Growth: FSSAI Flags Serious Lapses at Delhi’s JW Marriott, Andaz

Food safety concerns have hit two prominent five-star hotels in Delhi’s Aerocity after the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) found serious hygiene and food-safety violations, including cockroach infestations, expired food, fungal growth, poor sanitation and improper storage practices.

The regulator has issued notices to JW Marriott and Andaz Delhi following inspections that uncovered deficiencies across kitchens, food-preparation areas and storage facilities. Both hotels have been directed to take immediate corrective measures and submit compliance reports with supporting evidence.

At JW Marriott, inspectors found cockroaches and fruit flies, unclean utensils and food-contact surfaces, spoiled and fungal-affected products, and conditions creating risks of cross-contamination. Apples with fungal growth and rotten tomatoes were among the items flagged, while cut vegetables and other food products were found to be improperly stored.

FSSAI also reported deficiencies in the hotel's Chinese, Indian, Italian and bakery kitchens, including pest activity, poor sanitation, defective storage containers and non-operational exhaust systems. The regulator further flagged inadequate segregation of vegetarian and non-vegetarian food, weak allergen management, poor temperature control and deficiencies in potable-water management.

At Andaz Delhi, officials found active cockroaches near freezers, houseflies, mosquitoes in a grinding room and spider webs. A packet of gutka was also discovered inside the bottling plant area.

Inspectors additionally found around 87 kg of expired sweets, along with an expired cake base and bread packets. FSSAI flagged duplicate date-marking on expired bread packaging, inadequate temperature monitoring, improper allergen segregation and poor waste management.

The regulator collected samples from both hotels for laboratory analysis. Further action will be based on the test results, while the findings underline that premium branding and five-star status cannot substitute for strict food-safety compliance and hygiene standards.