BENGALURU: The Food Safety Wing of the Food Safety and Drug Administration Department has taken action against several three-star and five-star hotels in Bengaluru after a special inspection drive found multiple food safety violations.According to the department, 30 teams inspected 26 hotels and collected 35 food samples for laboratory analysis. Officials flagged several violations, including improper labelling, expired food products, unhygienic storage and handling, fungal growth on vegetables, and inadequate segregation of vegetarian and non-vegetarian food items.According to news agency ANI, officials found several food safety violations during the inspections, including non-compliance with FSSAI labelling requirements, improper labelling and misbranding of food products, storage of expired food items, and unhygienic food handling and storage conditions.Following the violations, notices were issued to the concerned Food Business Operators (FBOs), and adjudication proceedings under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, will be initiated before the Adjudicating Officer.The food samples collected during the inspection drive 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, among other products.The Karnataka Health and Family Welfare Department constituted 30 special teams to conduct surprise inspections at hotels, restaurants and food outlets across Bengaluru and other major locations in the state following a rise in complaints over poor food quality, hygiene and food safety violations.The inspection drive has been launched on the directions of Karnataka Health and Family Welfare Minister UT Khader after the department received several complaints from members of the public, including those shared on social media, alleging unhygienic practices and the sale of substandard food at various eateries.The latest crackdown comes amid growing public concerns over food safety in Karnataka. In recent months, several videos and social media posts have highlighted alleged unhygienic kitchen conditions, poor food handling practices and the use of artificial colours in popular dishes such as gobi Manchurian, kebabs and other prepared foods. The complaints have prompted the department to intensify its enforcement measures.The state government had also conducted a similar enforcement drive last year under “Operation Eat Right” following reports of food poisoning and the use of artificial colours in food products.As part of the campaign, several hotels and food establishments were inspected, notices were issued to violators and penalties were imposed for violations of food safety standards.(With agency inputs)
