Food Safety Teams Find Expired Food, Hygiene Lapses in Bengaluru Star Hotels

A special food safety drive across Bengaluru’s premium hotels has uncovered expired food, unhygienic kitchens, fungal growth and labelling violations, prompting authorities to seize large quantities of food articles and initiate legal action against defaulting establishments.

The Food Safety and Drug Administration (FDA) deployed 30 teams to inspect 26 three-star and five-star hotels across Bengaluru Urban District, including areas under the BBMP. The drive was conducted under the direction of Health Minister U T Khader to assess compliance with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

Officials collected 35 food samples for laboratory analysis, including chicken, mutton, fish, milk, edible oil, tea powder, chilli and turmeric powders, cheese, sauces, lemon juice, cashews and ginger.

Inspections found expired dairy, bakery, meat and vegetable products, fungal growth on vegetables, unhygienic kitchens and storage areas, improper labelling and food misbranding. Some establishments also failed to maintain separate storage for vegetarian and non-vegetarian products.

The seizures included 76 kg of meat, 200 kg of vegetables and 32 litres of expired milk at The Lalit Ashok, while 105 kg of expired food was seized at Radisson Blu. Officials also confiscated 72 kg of meat and fish at Taj Yeshwantpur, 19 kg of meat at Four Seasons and 15 kg at Shangri-La. Three kg of expired bakery products were destroyed at Vivanta Bengaluru Whitefield.

The crackdown subsequently expanded to food storage and distribution centres supplying hotels. Officials seized about 70 kg of sauces and 10 litres of beverages nearing expiry and collected 18 additional samples.

Notices have been issued to the concerned Food Business Operators, with adjudication proceedings and further action to follow based on laboratory reports.