Key Update

Food safety officials shut down a high-end Bengaluru pub and took legal action against several other hotels and eateries after inspections uncovered rotten, expired and improperly stored food. The Food Safety and Drugs Administration Department seized and disposed of 132 kg of food products and 15 litres of used cooking oil during raids across Bengaluru Urban district and BBMP zones. Officials found fungus-infested meat, expired dairy products, fish, mushrooms, sauces and other food items deemed unfit for consumption.

Fungus-covered meat found at luxury pub

At Skyye Lounge in UB City, officials found the kitchen unhygienic and ordered the pub to close. Inspectors found rotten chicken and beef with fungus reportedly growing on the meat. They also discovered milk and curd that had passed their expiry dates by around 10 days. Officials seized and discarded 51 kg of food, including 45 kg of rotten chicken and beef and 6 kg of vegetable cutlets. They also disposed of 15 litres of used cooking oil from the premises.

Fish, duck, mushrooms and other food seized

Officials found food safety violations at several other establishments during the inspections.

• Royal Chain Hotel: 50 kg of duck and 5 kg of fish seized
• Madras Kitchen: 5 kg of green peas seized
• Tescon Hotel: 5 kg of mushrooms seized
• Senchez Hotel: 3 kg of fish seized
• Another 7 kg of food, including cake, potatoes and tacos, discarded

The inspections targeted food products that failed to meet safety, quality or storage requirements.

70 kg of soy sauce seized from storage facilities

The inspection teams also visited food storage and distribution centres operated by Coldman Logistics and Radhakrishna Foodland, which supply food products to several hotels and caterers in Bengaluru. Officials seized around 70 kg of soy sauce, along with other sauces approaching their expiry dates. The teams also confiscated around 10 litres of beverages, including strawberry-flavoured drinks and other beverages nearing their expiry dates.

Food samples sent for laboratory testing

Officials collected five meat samples and 13 other food samples during the inspections and sent them for analysis. The department deployed 30 teams comprising Designated Officers and Food Safety Officers as part of a special drive to inspect food storage facilities and food businesses across Bengaluru. The teams assessed storage conditions, food quality and food safety practices at facilities supplying meat, fish and other food products to hotels, caterers and other businesses.

Legal action to follow

The Food Safety and Drugs Administration Department said it would initiate legal action against food business operators found violating food safety and quality requirements under the Food Safety and Standards Act. The findings highlight a critical food safety concern: proper storage and stock rotation matter just as much as the quality of food entering a commercial kitchen.

Source:  India Today