2 weeks ago
Karnataka Minister Warns of Food Safety Inspections at All Establishments
The health minister of Karnataka, a state in India, said officials will check the food and kitchens of all restaurants and eateries, from fancy five-star hotels to small government canteens.
He said this is because the health of people is more important than the place where food is served.
The checks make sure food is clean, fresh, and safe to eat.
Recently, officials inspected 60 big hotels in Bengaluru and took 77 food samples to test in laboratories.
They found some meat that had gone bad and had fungus on it.
They also closed the kitchen of a fancy restaurant that was not kept clean.
Stores where food was kept in dirty conditions were shut down too.
The minister wants people to know how long food has been stored and what preservatives are inside it.
He said businesses should fix their mistakes and serve healthy food, or they could face legal trouble.
Karnataka Health Minister U T Khader said food safety inspections will cover every establishment, from five-star hotels to Indira Canteens, because people's health matters more than the venue.
The inspection drive recently covered 60 three-star and five-star hotels in Bengaluru Urban District, with 77 food samples sent to laboratories for analysis.
Officials found rotten meat and beef with fungus in some establishments and closed the kitchen of a high-end rooftop lounge for alleged unhygienic conditions.
Warehouses of an Indira Canteen in Gottigere and a quick-commerce unicorn in Hoskote were sealed over unhygienic food handling and storage.
Khader called for consumer awareness about food storage and preservatives and warned that violations invite strict legal action under the food safety laws.
- Who
- Karnataka Health Minister U T Khader and officials of the food safety division of the Food Safety and Drug Administration
- What
- Announced that food safety inspections will be carried out at all establishments regardless of their status, following a drive that found unhygienic conditions, rotten meat, and sealed warehouses
- Where
- Bengaluru Urban District, Karnataka, including Gottigere and Hoskote
- When
- Thursday, with inspections carried out recently
- Why
- To verify compliance with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and to protect public health
Key facts
- Minister
- U T Khader, Karnataka Health Minister
- Enforcing agency
- Food Safety and Drug Administration (food safety division)
- Hotels inspected
- 60 three-star and five-star hotels in Bengaluru Urban District
- Food samples collected
- 77 samples sent to food laboratories for analysis
- Laws cited
- Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006; Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011
- Sealed premises
- Indira Canteen warehouse in Gottigere; quick-commerce unicorn warehouse in Hoskote
- Violations found
- Rotten meat and beef with fungus; unhygienic kitchen of a high-end rooftop lounge
- Warning
- Strict legal action for violations of food quality, safety, hygiene, storage, labelling, or handling rules
Quotes
U T Khader
Karnataka Health Minister
“"People should also know that whatever they see from outside, all is not right. So, they should have that awareness. Multinational companies, 10 days, 15 days, buns they are keeping and giving. What type of preservatives might have been in that?"”
NDTV
“"We don't have anything against them. We want to rectify them. They should rectify their mindset. They should give healthy food and cooperate with the public."”
NDTV
Sources
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