Over 1,000kg of rotten food seized in Bengaluru hotel inspections

More than 1,000kg of food and other products have been seized from three-star and five-star hotels in Bengaluru following a three-day food safety enforcement drive, authorities said.

The Karnataka Food Safety and Drug Administration Department inspected 60 hotels across Bengaluru Urban district and the Greater Bengaluru Area from August 7 to 9 following directions from Health Minister UT Khader.

Thirty inspection teams carried out the operation and collected 77 food samples for laboratory testing, according to a statement issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department.

The inspections focused on compliance with food safety requirements covering storage, labelling, food handling and hygiene under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and related regulations.

Officials reported several violations, including mislabelled products, expired food, improper storage of meat, fish and poultry, unhygienic kitchen conditions, mould-affected vegetables and inadequate separation of vegetarian and non-vegetarian food.

The department seized 640kg of mutton, chicken and fish over alleged labelling violations and missing or expired manufacturing and expiry dates. Another 276kg of rotten or mould-affected vegetables, 45 litres of expired milk and curd, 12kg of expired bakery products and 67kg of mislabelled or expired cereals and other food items were also confiscated.

Inspectors additionally seized 49 litres of used cooking oil. Authorities said some products carried shelf-life declarations extending beyond the permitted period, while some imported items had been repacked.

As part of the enforcement action, kitchens at Hotel Sky, UB City and Pegs & Bottles were seized or closed. The confiscated unsafe and expired products were later destroyed in accordance with prescribed procedures.

The department has issued notices to hotels where violations were detected and referred cases to the respective adjudicating officers for further action.

The enforcement drive also covered international food chains, including KFC, McDonald's and Subway. Officials collected samples of mayonnaise, chicken and bread from outlets and their supplying warehouses for laboratory testing.

At a McDonald's outlet on Brigade Road, inspectors found magnesium sulfite (MgSO3) being used in connection with the treatment of used frying oil. A notice was issued to the food business operator, with further action to be determined following examination under applicable regulations.

The department said similar inspections would continue across Bengaluru to ensure compliance with food safety standards.

In a separate regulatory action in India, authorities have seized around 18,000 boxes of Diageo liquor bottles over alleged violations concerning markings indicating that the bottles were made using safe recycled plastic, government sources told Reuters.

Diageo India confirmed that some of its bottles had been “quarantined by authorities until further direction”.

The company said the bottles were sourced from a recycler approved by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and that mandatory tests had been conducted by suppliers.

“Our products are completely safe for consumption,” Diageo India’s United Spirits said in a statement to Reuters, adding that it was engaging with FSSAI for further direction.