Bengaluru Club Sealed After Officials Find Expired Chilli, Unlabelled Food Items

During an inspection, food safety wing officials discovered 40 kg of expired chilli, incorrectly labelled food items, unsanitary food preparation and storage areas, and unapproved artificial colours. As a result, Chairman's Club in Sahakaranagar was closed and sealed on Thursday.

Meanwhile, 64 paying guest (PG) accommodations in Bengaluru City and Bengaluru Rural were inspected by officials on Friday following complaints about food quality and hygiene.

Food safety violations found at Chairman's Club

The Department of Food Safety and Drug Administration's Food Safety Wing inspected Chairman's Club on Thursday, according to a press statement. Two kilograms of sajeera food products and five kilograms of breadcrumbs were found to be unlabelled in accordance with FSSAI requirements. Additionally, officials found that the food storage areas and kitchen were kept in extremely unsanitary conditions.

The inspection team found that the necessary food safety precautions for handling and storing food were not being followed, along with the use or storage of unapproved or prohibited artificial colours in food products. Officials also found a food safety violation where vegetarian and non-vegetarian food items were stored together. Food items that had expired were seized during the inspection.

Officials closed and sealed the club kitchen and initiated further legal action under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the Rules, 2011, due to serious violations related to food safety and cleanliness.

Notices issued to 23 PGs

Food safety officials inspected 64 paying guest (PG) accommodations in Bengaluru City and Bengaluru Rural on Friday in response to public concerns about unhygienic facilities and substandard food in PGs. Notices were issued to 23 PGs for poor hygiene and violations of food safety standards.

To assess their quality and compliance with food safety regulations, officials also collected 12 food samples and sent them for laboratory analysis.

Officials found that some PGs were using several mislabelled and expired food items, including rice flour, black pepper, Swastik Bisibele Bath Powder, expired curd, and artificial food colouring. The food items were confiscated.

Officials found bed bug powder stored on a dining table next to food items at Nandana Elite PG in Bommasandra. Along with other unhygienic conditions, unused and non-food-related items were found stored near a drinking water source. The dining area was subsequently sealed.