Bengaluru food safety drive: cockroaches found at legislators' hostel eatery, expired items seized
The Karnataka Health Department's Food Safety Division resumed inspections of eateries and other food establishments in Bengaluru on August 12, focusing on government premises. The drive covered the canteen at the department's headquarters, hotels and restaurants near Vidhana Soudha, Legislators' Home, and the MS Building.
At the Arogya Soudha canteen on Magadi Road, inspectors found expired food products, including idli rava and coconut powder. Food items were not stored according to FSSAI guidelines, and pest control measures had not been carried out, leaving the premises in an unhygienic condition. An advisory notice was issued, and legal proceedings will be initiated before the Adjudicating Officer, according to the Food Safety and Drug Administration department.
A Nandini parlour on the premises was also found violating labelling requirements, resulting in an advisory notice. Four hotels located within government building premises were inspected, and various deficiencies were noted. Advisory notices were issued to all of them.
The most serious finding was at a restaurant run by a private operator inside Legislators' House, adjacent to Vidhana Soudha. Officials found unhygienic conditions, including cockroaches in the kitchen. An advisory notice was issued, and the department said action would be taken against the operator.
A hotel in the MS Building premises was also inspected and found to be unhygienic, leading to its immediate closure. The food business operator submitted an undertaking to rectify the deficiencies and agreed to reopen only after obtaining permission from the Commissioner, in line with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and applicable rules.
The department reiterated that food business operators must strictly comply with the Food Safety and Standards Act and related regulations. It warned that any violation concerning food quality, safety, hygiene, proper storage, labelling, or food handling practices would attract strict legal action.
These inspections are part of a broader special drive across Bengaluru Urban District and the Greater Bengaluru Area. The authorities are checking everything from small eateries to three-star and five-star hotels for compliance with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011. Recently, 60 hotels in the district were inspected, and 77 food samples were collected and sent to laboratories for analysis.
The department has urged all food businesses to maintain hygiene and follow safety norms, emphasizing that public health remains a top priority. Further inspections are expected in the coming days.
