Rotten meat, fungus on veggies: Bengaluru luxury hotels under food safety scanner

Several three-star and five-star hotels in Bengaluru have come under the scanner after a special inspection drive found multiple food safety violations, including rotten meat, fungal growth on vegetables and expired food products.

The Food Safety Wing of the Food Safety and Drug Administration (FDA) inspected 26 hotels as part of the drive. Officials found issues including unhygienic food storage and handling, improper labelling and inadequate segregation of vegetarian and non-vegetarian food items.

According to an FDA statement cited by news agency ANI, rotten meat, chicken, fish and expired bakery products were among the items seized during the inspections.

Expired food, poor storage flagged

Officials also found food products that did not comply with FSSAI labelling requirements, along with cases of improper labelling and misbranding. Expired food items were found stored at some establishments, while officials also flagged unhygienic conditions for food handling and storage.

The department has issued notices to the concerned Food Business Operators (FBOs). Adjudication proceedings under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, will be initiated before the Adjudicating Officer.

Food samples collected during the inspections included 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. The samples have been sent for analysis.

Hotels under scanner

The FDA listed several hotels where food items were seized during the inspections.

At The Lalit Ashok (Annex South), officials seized 32 litres of expired milk, along with 76 kg of meat and 200 kg of vegetables. Shangri-La Bengaluru had 15 kg of meat seized, while 19 kg of meat was seized from Four Seasons Hotel Bengaluru.

At Vivanta Bengaluru Whitefield, officials seized 3 kg of expired bakery products. Taj Yeshwantpur had 72 kg of meat and fish seized.

The Radisson Blu (The Atrium) saw 105 kg of expired food articles seized, including 50 kg of chicken, 25 kg of meat, 23 kg of fish and 7 kg of vegetables.

Food safety checks intensified

The Karnataka Health and Family Welfare Department formed 30 special teams to conduct surprise inspections at hotels, restaurants and food outlets in Bengaluru and other major locations.

The drive was launched following complaints about food quality, hygiene and food safety, including complaints shared on social media. Health and Family Welfare Minister UT Khader had directed the inspections.

The action comes amid wider concerns over food safety in Karnataka, with social media posts alleging unhygienic kitchen conditions, poor food handling and the use of artificial colours in dishes such as gobi manchurian and kebabs.

The state had carried out a similar enforcement drive last year under "Operation Eat Right", during which food establishments were inspected and action was taken against those found violating food safety standards.