A food safety inspection in Bengaluru has uncovered several serious violations at high-end hotels. Officials found expired milk, rotten vegetables, fungal growth, and improperly stored food items.
The Food Safety and Drug Administration Department inspected 26 three-star and five-star hotels on Friday, August 7. Around 30 food safety teams carried out inspections across all zones under the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike.
Officials found unhygienic kitchen and storage conditions at several hotels. They also found expired dairy and bakery products, along with chicken, fish, meat and vegetables.
Some hotels were also found storing vegetarian and non-vegetarian food together. Officials reported labelling issues, food misbranding and violations of mandatory food safety rules.
At The Lalit Ashok (Annex South), officials seized 76 kg of meat and 200 kg of vegetables. They also destroyed 32 litres of expired milk.
Shangri-La Bengaluru had 15 kg of meat seized. Four Seasons Hotel Bengaluru had 19 kg of meat seized. Officials also seized 3 kg of expired bakery products from Vivanta Bengaluru Whitefield and 72 kg of meat from Taj Yeshwantpur.
The largest seizure was reported at The Radisson Blu (The Atria). 105 kg of expired food items were confiscated by authorities. This included chicken, meat, fish and vegetables.
Thirty-five food samples in all were gathered and sent to a food laboratory for analysis. The samples included milk, chicken, mutton, fish, edible oil, spices, cheese, sauces and other food items.
The department issued notices to the hotels. Further action will depend on the laboratory reports and applicable laws.