Expired milk, rotten meat and vegetables showing fungal growth were among the food safety violations detected during a major inspection drive at several premium hotels and resorts in Bengaluru, raising concerns over hygiene and food handling standards even at some of the city’s most prestigious hospitality establishments.
The Karnataka Food Safety and Drug Administration Department conducted inspections at 26 three-star and five-star hotels across Bengaluru Urban district as part of a sweeping enforcement exercise. Among the establishments inspected were prominent names such as Taj Yeshwantpur, Shangri-La Bengaluru, The Lalit Ashok, Four Seasons Hotel Bengaluru, Vivanta Bengaluru Whitefield and Radisson Blu (The Atria).
Karnataka Health Minister UT Khader said the inspections were intended to ensure that luxury hotels and other high-end food establishments were not exempt from complying with food safety regulations. The exercise covered all Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) zones and focused on compliance with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and associated regulations.
As many as 30 Food Safety Officer teams participated in the inspections. Officials collected 35 food samples for laboratory testing, including chicken, mutton, fish, edible oil, milk, spices, tea powder, cheese, tomato sauce and lemon juice.
The samples have been sent to laboratories for detailed analysis. Authorities said further legal action would depend on the findings of these tests.
During the inspections, officials reportedly found several alleged violations, including unhygienic kitchen and storage conditions, expired food products, improper food handling and vegetables with fungal growth. Inspectors also detected misbranded products and violations of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) labelling requirements.
In some establishments, vegetarian and non-vegetarian food products were allegedly not being stored separately, potentially creating hygiene and cross-contamination concerns.
Following the inspections, notices were issued to the concerned food business operators. Officials said legal proceedings would be initiated wherever violations are established.
The inspections also resulted in the seizure and destruction of significant quantities of expired or allegedly unsafe food products.
At The Lalit Ashok (Annex South), officials seized and destroyed 76 kg of meat, 200 kg of vegetables and 32 litres of expired milk.
At Shangri-La Bengaluru, 15 kg of meat were seized, while officials confiscated 19 kg of meat at Four Seasons Hotel Bengaluru.
At Vivanta Bengaluru Whitefield, 3 kg of expired bakery products were destroyed. At Taj Yeshwantpur, authorities seized 72 kg of meat and fish.
The biggest recovery was reported at Radisson Blu (The Atria), where officials seized and destroyed 105 kg of expired food products. The stock reportedly comprised 50 kg of chicken, 25 kg of meat, 23 kg of fish and 7 kg of vegetables.
The findings have highlighted the importance of maintaining rigorous food safety standards across the hospitality sector, irrespective of the reputation or price category of an establishment. High-end hotels cater to large numbers of guests, including domestic and international travellers, making proper food storage, preparation and hygiene particularly important.
The department has directed all food business operators to strictly comply with food safety laws and maintain prescribed hygiene standards. Authorities have also warned that establishments found violating the regulations could face stringent legal action.
The laboratory examination of the collected samples will now be crucial in determining whether additional violations are established. The inspection drive also sends a clear message to the hospitality industry that food safety compliance cannot be compromised, even in some of Bengaluru’s most expensive and well-known hotels.
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