Karnataka's Food Safety and Drug Administration Department has launched a broad crackdown on paying guest (PG) accommodation in Bengaluru following a series of complaints from the public about bad food quality, unhygienic kitchens and unsafe food handling. Last week, PG accommodations in Bengaluru city, Bengaluru Rural and Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) were targeted.
Food safety officials thoroughly examined 64 PG accommodations to assess compliance with the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, Food Safety and Standards Rules 2011, and Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations 2011. The inspections aimed to ensure that residents staying in PGs were provided with safe, hygienic, and quality food.
The department said 23 PG accommodations were issued notices after significant violations of food safety and hygiene regulations were found. During the inspections, inspectors looked for food preparation methods, storage conditions, cleanliness of kitchens and dining areas, quality of raw materials, labelling practices and adherence to expiry and use-by dates.
The department said several PG operators failed to meet all the necessary standards, so they were issued notices and warnings. Any violations found to be severe or not corrected and allowed to go unaddressed will be pursued from now on, the department says.
As part of the enforcement mission, officials also collected 12 food samples from different PG accommodations and sent them to accredited laboratories for further examination. The samples will be tested to ensure that food served meets health and safety standards. Based on the laboratory results, authorities can take further action against places that are serving substandard or unsafe food.
At the inspection, several alarming violations were observed. Officials seized many food-related items that were expired, improperly stored or unsuitable for consumption. Among the items seized were expired curd, Swastik Bisi Bele Bath Powder, rice flour, synthetic food colouring agents, black pepper and a misbranded food mixture. These items were seized under food safety regulations.
The findings have raised alarmingly serious concerns for food storage and ingredient management at PG facilities, such as those for students and working professionals who rely on them for their daily meals.
The most serious violations were found at Nandana Elite PG in Bommasandra. Food safety officers found bed bug-killing powder on a dining table that was near food items. Moreover, non-food items were found close to drinking water facilities, which is a significant risk of contamination.
The PG’s overall facilities were described as extremely unhygienic by officials. Given the magnitude of violations in place, officials closed the dining area. The incident has raised residents’ concerns and concerns that chemicals and non-food substances can be stored close to food preparation and consumption places.
The Food Safety Department has directed all PG owners, managers and food handlers to comply with food safety regulations. Clean kitchens, proper food storage, quality raw materials and the use of expired food products are the most important things, authorities said.
But PG operators have been asked to regularly monitor hygiene practices and train staff on food safety protocols, the government said. Any future violations would be subject to strict legal action under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, the department said.
The inspection drive is a strong warning to PG operators across Bengaluru, and the government is taking care of thousands of students and working professionals who depend on PG accommodations for the health and well-being of affordable housing and meals.
