Bengaluru: The ‘peptide party’ planned in Bengaluru on Aug 29, which had drawn mixed responses online, has been cancelled after the Food Safety and Drug Administration (FDA) inspected the organisers’ company and issued a notice.Billed as the first event of its kind in Bengaluru, the party was to feature “peptide tastings” and was scheduled for 6.30pm Saturday in Koramangala. According to social media posts by the hosts, the invite-only event was capped at 50 members and was to feature music, food and networking. The posts were taken down Friday.Peptides are short chains of amino acids that act as building blocks or signalling molecules in the body. Peptide parties are described online as informal gatherings where people learn about, and sometimes use or sell, peptide-based products, often marketed for weight loss, anti-ageing, fitness or wellness.FDA officials said they took cognisance of the event after seeing the social media posts and subsequently visited the office of the company hosting it. “We did not know what kind of products they were using at the party. Hence, our drug inspectors visited their office and issued a notice. One of their representatives appeared before us and we asked them to provide additional details of the party,” said Srinivas K, commissioner, FDA.A public advisory issued by the Karnataka FDA Friday identified Upsurge Labs LLP as the organisers of the event. The advisory said the company’s authorised representatives, following an enquiry, had communicated that the scheduled event stood cancelled. It also said the representatives had requested suitable time to produce documents relating to the event.When TOI checked with the hosts, they confirmed cancellation of the event.Expired food seized from college hostel canteensFood safety officials inspected 34 canteens and kitchens operating in govt and private medical college hostels across the city Thursday and issued notices to five establishments for various violations.During the inspections, officials found labelling-related violations in one canteen and seized 7kg of expired rava and 8 litres of expired milk stored in the kitchen. Authorities said legal action is being initiated against the food business operator concerned under the Food Safety and Standards Act and related regulations. The case will be placed before the adjudicating officer, the additional deputy commissioner’s court, for further proceedings.The inspections were part of ongoing efforts to ensure food safety and hygiene standards in hostel kitchens catering to students.
