Pramesh S Jain
A surprise food safety inspection of three-star and five-star hotels across Bengaluru has uncovered a series of violations,including storage of expired meat and milk products,fungal-infested vegetables,unhygienic kitchen conditions and non-compliance with mandatory FSSAI labelling norms.
The special drive was conducted on August 7 by the Food Safety Wing of the Food Safety and Drug Administration Department under the guidance of Health Minister U.T.Khader.
As many as 30 teams of Food Safety Officers carried out inspections across Bengaluru Urban district,including all BBMP zones.
Officials inspected 26 three-star and five-star hotels and collected 35 food samples for laboratory analysis.
The samples included chicken,mutton,fish,tea powder,edible oil,chilli powder,turmeric powder,tomato sauce,lemon juice,cheese,milk,papad,cashew nuts, ginger,pepper and other food products.
The inspections revealed several violations,including improper and misleading labelling,failure to comply with FSSAI requirements,storage of expired food products, unhygienic food handling and storage,fungal growth on vegetables and failure to maintain separate storage facilities for vegetarian and non-vegetarian food.
Major seizures:
At The Lalit Ashok (Annex South),officials seized 76 kg of meat and 200 kg of vegetables.They also seized and destroyed 32 litres of expired milk.
At Shangri-La Bengaluru,15 kg of meat was 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.
At Taj Yeshwantpur,72 kg of meat and fish was seized.
The biggest seizure was reported at The Radisson Blu (The Atria),where officials seized 105 kg of expired food articles,comprising 50 kg of chicken,25 kg of meat,23 kg of fish and 7 kg of vegetables.
The department said notices have been issued to the concerned Food Business Operators (FBOs).
Adjudication proceedings will be initiated before the competent Adjudicating Officer under the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
Officials said further action will depend on the laboratory analysis of the 35 food samples and the nature of violations established against the establishments.
The Food Safety and Drug Administration Department has directed all Food Business Operators to strictly comply with the Food Safety and Standards Act and the regulations framed under it.
The department warned that legal action would be taken against establishments found violating food safety norms.
