Bengaluru/Mangaluru: The next time you sit down for a meal at a star hotel in Bengaluru, you may want to spare a thought for what happens behind the kitchen doors. A mass inspection by the Food Safety and Drug Administration (FDA) uncovered expired milk, rotten vegetables, and other food safety violations at several three-star and five-star hotels.Acting on multiple complaints from the public, FDA constituted 30 special teams to inspect star hotels across Karnataka. As part of the drive, 26 star hotels in and around Bengaluru were inspected Friday and 35 samples collected.According to FDA commissioner Srinivas K, inspectors seized a total of 105kg of expired food articles at one star hotel, including 50kg of chicken, 25kg of meat, 23kg of fish, and 7kg of vegetables. At another hotel, 76kg of meat, 200kg of vegetables, and 32 litres of expired milk were seized and destroyed. The raids also led to the seizure of 72kg of meat and fish at a third hotel, 19kg of meat at another property, and 15kg of meat at yet another, where rotten potatoes and tomatoes were also found. In addition, officials seized 3kg of expired bakery products from one of the star hotels.
Rotten onions and potatoes were found in a star hotel during the raid
Inspection teams also ordered the immediate disposal of expired and substandard food items, including milk, from several hotel kitchens. “This special drive will continue Saturday. We’re carrying out detailed inspections of hotel kitchens, warehouses and centralised kitchens, with a strong focus on food safety and hygiene,” Srinivas said.The teams have been instructed to conduct comprehensive checks using the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) checklist. Besides collecting samples of mutton, chicken, fish and other non-vegetarian food for lab analysis, officials will verify calorie information displayed on menus, inspect centralised kitchens, and examine meat storage facilities, cold-storage units, and temperature-control systems.They will also check whether hotels are properly segregating raw and cooked food, preventing cross-contamination, and maintaining the cold chain.
Food Safety Dept officials conducted raids on several star hotels in Bengaluru
We wanted to send a message: MinSpeaking in Mangaluru, health minister UT Khader said govt had deliberately begun the crackdown with luxury hotels to send a strong message to the hospitality industry. “If we inspect top five-star hotels and take action, everyone below will automatically fall in line. The message should be clear: if they are not spared, nobody else will be either. Our only objective is to ensure people are served safe and healthy food,” he said.Khader also revealed that inspectors had found imported meat from Denmark in one hotel kitchen, raising questions about its freshness and quality.“When meat is readily available here, why import it from Denmark? What kind of meat is it? How long did it take to reach here? Even transporting it in containers takes nearly a month. In that case, how can we trust its quality?” he asked.The minister urged hotel owners to prioritise food safety over profits. “People pay for the food they eat. Don’t serve them food that lands them in the ICU,” he said.Khader further said consumers have a right to know what they are eating. Referring to major food chains operating in Karnataka, he questioned the sourcing and freshness of their ingredients. “Where do their buns come from? Are they made fresh every day or are they weeks or months old? Where does the chicken come from, and how long has it been stored? How long ago was the chicken masala prepared? At what temperature is it frozen? What preservatives or chemicals are added to keep the buns fresh for a month or two?” he asked.“The public has a right to know these details so they can make an informed decision about whether to eat there or not,” Khader added.What was seized & from where?* The Lalit Ashok (Annex South): 76kg of meat, 200kg of vegetables, 32 lites of expired milk* Shangri-La Bengaluru: 15kg of meat* Four Seasons Hotel: 19kg of meat* Vivanta Bengaluru (Whitefield): 3kg of expired bakery products* Taj Yeshwantpur: 72kg meat and fish* Radisson Blue Atria: 50kg chicken, 25kg meat, 23kg fish, 7kg vegetablesSource: Food Safety and Drug Administration
