Fungal growth on vegetables, expired milk and other items were among the violations discovered at several upscale hotels in Bengaluru during a targeted food safety inspection, officials reported.
The Food Safety and Drug Administration Department checked 26 three-star and five-star hotels in Bengaluru as part of the operation. Thirty teams of officers carried out the checks on Friday, August 7, across all zones of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, according to a statement.
The inspections revealed multiple lapses such as unhygienic kitchen and storage conditions, expired products and incorrect food storage practices.
Officials noted vegetables and other items showing fungal growth. A video from news agency ANI depicted kitchen staff at one property discarding a tray of baked goods.
Some hotels failed to separate vegetarian and non-vegetarian items. Additional issues included improper labelling, misbranding and breaches of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India rules.
Expired milk, dairy, bakery items, chicken, fish, meat and vegetables were located in storage areas.
Several five-star properties had unsafe food confiscated. At The Lalit Ashok Annex South, 76 kg of meat and 200 kg of vegetables were seized along with 32 litres of expired milk that was destroyed. Shangri-La Bengaluru lost 15 kg of meat, while Four Seasons Hotel Bengaluru had 19 kg of meat taken. Vivanta Bengaluru Whitefield saw 3 kg of expired bakery goods removed, and Taj Yeshwantpur lost 72 kg of meat. The largest seizure occurred at The Radisson Blu The Atria, where 105 kg of expired products were confiscated, including 50 kg of chicken, 23 kg of meat, 7 kg of fish and 25 kg of vegetables.
Thirty-five food samples were collected and sent for laboratory testing. These covered tea powder, chicken, mutton, fish, edible oil, chilli powder, turmeric powder, tomato sauce, lemon juice, cheese, papad, cashew nuts, ginger, pepper powder, spice powder and milk.
Notices were issued to the hotels. Further measures will depend on lab results and legal provisions.
The Bengaluru drive follows similar enforcement actions by the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration targeting eateries for comparable violations.
