FDA finds expired food at Bengaluru luxury hotels

BENGALURU: A five-star tag may promise luxury, but does it guarantee safe food? Not always, if a recent series of inspections by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is any indication. Officials from the Karnataka FDA conducted raids at several upscale hotels in Bengaluru and stumbled upon expired food items stored in their kitchens and cold storage.

The inspections, carried out over the past week, were triggered by complaints about food quality at premium establishments. While the FDA has not yet released the full list of hotels that were found non-compliant, sources indicate that at least three well-known properties in the central and eastern parts of the city were pulled up.

Expired items, stale stock

During the checks, FDA teams found packets of sauces, dairy products, and ready-to-eat items that had crossed their expiry dates. In some cases, the expired goods were stored alongside fresh produce, raising concerns about cross-contamination.

“We have seized the expired items and issued notices to the management,” a senior FDA official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The official added that samples of some products have been sent for lab analysis to check for bacterial contamination.

Hotels have been given time to respond to the notices. Depending on their replies, the FDA may impose fines or even suspend licences for repeat offenders.

Not an isolated case

This is not the first time that luxury hotels in Bengaluru have come under the scanner. Over the last two years, the FDA has conducted similar drives in response to consumer complaints and social media posts about food poisoning and unhygienic practices.

In 2024, a popular five-star hotel in the city was fined after cockroach infestation was found in its kitchen. In another instance, a star-rated property was pulled up for using substandard cooking oil.

Food safety experts point out that the problem often lies in the supply chain. “Hotels source ingredients from multiple vendors, and if there is no proper inventory management, expired items can easily slip through,” said a former FSSAI consultant, who did not wish to be named.

What the FDA is doing

The current drive is part of a broader statewide food safety campaign. Officials have been conducting surprise checks at restaurants, bakeries, and sweet shops, especially in the wake of the monsoon season when the risk of foodborne illnesses rises.

In the last month alone, the FDA has inspected over 200 food establishments across Bengaluru and issued more than 40 show-cause notices. Most of the violations were related to poor storage conditions, lack of hygiene, and expired stock.

“We are not targeting any particular segment. Our job is to ensure that every eatery, whether a street vendor or a five-star hotel, follows the same safety norms,” the FDA official said.

What it means for consumers

For diners, the findings are a wake-up call. A star rating is not a guarantee of food safety. Experts advise consumers to be vigilant and report any suspicious food quality issues to the FDA's helpline or through the 'Food Safety Connect' mobile app.

The FDA has said it will release a detailed report of the inspections after the ongoing drive concludes. That report is expected to name the hotels and specify the penalties imposed.

Meanwhile, hotel associations have promised to cooperate with the authorities and conduct internal audits of their storage practices. The coming weeks will show whether these assurances translate into cleaner kitchens.