Key Update

Karnataka’s Food Safety Wing has intensified its enforcement drive across Bengaluru, inspecting dark stores, warehouses and other food businesses over alleged violations involving expired products, labelling, hygiene and storage practices.

The latest inspections resulted in the seizure of food products worth ₹1.38 crore, including improperly or inadequately labelled products worth ₹33 lakh and expired or near-expiry products worth ₹1.05 crore. Officials also seized medicines worth ₹4.02 lakh, taking the total value of the seizures to ₹1.43 crore.

Amazon Facilities Face Action

Officials seized food products worth ₹56 lakh from two Amazon facilities in Bengaluru.

At the Devanahalli facility, officials seized food products worth ₹14 lakh over alleged labelling violations and another ₹10 lakh worth of expired food products. They also seized medicines worth ₹2.45 lakh, alleging that the facility stored them without the required licence. At Amazon’s Anekal facility, officials seized food products worth ₹19 lakh over alleged labelling violations and another ₹13 lakh worth of expired products. They also seized medicines worth ₹1.57 lakh for alleged storage without the required licence.

Swiggy Instamart Facility Shut

Officials also inspected a Swiggy Instamart facility in Hoskote, where they seized expired food products worth ₹42 lakh.

The authorities subsequently shut the facility after reporting unhygienic conditions and alleged violations of food safety laws. The department said its investigation remains underway and that officials found expired and mislabelled products worth around ₹1 crore during the probe.

Expired Food Found at HBR Layout Store

The enforcement drive also covered retail outlets. Following a complaint, officials inspected Saptha Bazaar in HBR Layout over allegations that the store sourced food products through online and e-commerce delivery agencies and sold expired products. Inspectors found expired cashew biscuits, ragi flour, chicken patties, paneer, cookies, nuts, eggs and flour, among other products. Officials seized food products worth around ₹10,000.

Lingarajapuram Premises Sealed

Officials also inspected Leo 7 Enterprises in Lingarajapuram, where they found expired or near-expiry nutritional products, beverages, chocolates, sweets, ghee, nuts and seeds. The department said the owner reported storing food products worth around ₹56 lakh at the premises. Officials subsequently seized the premises as part of the enforcement action.

Chairman’s Club Kitchen Shut Down

In a separate inspection, the Food Safety Wing of the Department of Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) shut down the kitchen of Chairman’s Club in Sahakaranagar, Dollars Colony, after officials found several alleged food safety and hygiene violations. Officials inspected the kitchen on the night of September 3 following instructions from Health and Family Welfare Minister U. T. Khader.

Officials Find 40 Kg of Expired Chilli

During the inspection, officials found 40 kg of expired chilli and 5 kg of bread crumbs without proper labelling as required under FSSAI regulations. They also reported unhygienic conditions in the food preparation and storage areas and found the use or storage of unauthorised and prohibited artificial colours.

Improper Storage Practices Identified

Officials also found vegetarian and non-vegetarian food products stored together, along with other alleged lapses in food handling and storage. According to the authorities, these violations breached provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and related food safety regulations.

Enforcement Drive Covers Bengaluru Food Supply Chain

The latest inspections form part of Karnataka’s wider food safety crackdown across Bengaluru. Officials are checking restaurants, hotels, clubs, warehouses, dark stores and food distribution centres, including facilities that supply food products to major hotels and restaurants. Authorities have issued notices to establishments where they found violations, with further action possible under food safety laws.

Source:  The Times of India 

The Hindu