BENGALURU: A day after the Food Safety and Drug Administration (FDA) uncovered large quantities of expired meat, milk and vegetables in the kitchens of several star hotels in Bengaluru, officials on Saturday turned their attention to food storage and distribution centres supplying hotels and caterers.Thirty special teams of the FDA inspected food storage facilities across Bengaluru Urban district, including those under the jurisdiction of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), on Saturday. The inspections were conducted under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and Rules, 2011.During inspections of the food storage and distribution facilities of Coldman Logistics Pvt Ltd and Radhakrishna Foodland Ltd, officials found around 70kg of soy sauce and other sauces nearing their expiry dates. The products were seized and destroyed, according to the FDA press note issued on Saturday.Officials also seized around 10 litres of beverages, including strawberry-flavoured beverages and other products nearing expiry. In addition, five meat samples and 13 other food samples were collected and sent for laboratory analysis.The two companies supply food products to several reputed hotels in Bengaluru. The FDA said the inspections focused on the storage, quality and safety measures adopted at the facilities.The FDA’s latest inspections are part of a wider special drive against food business operators supplying hotels and other establishments. The department said legal action would be initiated against operators found violating food safety and quality requirements under the Food Safety and Standards Act and Rules.The department is also checking storage conditions, cold-chain maintenance and other food safety practices at facilities supplying food to hotels and caterers.
