Karnataka Health Minister U.T. Khader has warned food establishments across the state that food safety inspections will be conducted in a big way and no category of businesses is going to be left out of the spotlight. The warning comes at a time when several food safety and hygiene violations were discovered in Bengaluru hotels, restaurants, canteens and other food establishments.
Khader said inspections would be conducted irrespective of the type or status of the establishment, so enforcement will not be limited to small eateries or street-food vendors. The Karnataka Health Department has already stepped up inspections, with surprise inspections of the food served with expired ingredients, poor kitchen hygiene, storage practices, banned colours and labelling requirements.
The intensified drive comes after inspections of luxury hotels in Bengaluru that turned out to be in bad shape and had expired food products, rotten or contaminated ingredients, and other hygiene issues, among others. Food items that were found unfit for use have been seized and notices issued to those who were found to be violating.
The crackdown has also reached government buildings. Food safety officials visited canteens at Vidhana Soudha and Health Department headquarters in Bengaluru, where some reports said expired food and cockroach infestations were found. The affected canteens were subsequently sealed, and the government sent a message that food safety standards should be in place everywhere.
Karnataka Minister UT Khader warns of extensive food safety inspections, says will target all places. pic.twitter.com/YJf7M94LjX
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According to reports, Karnataka has deployed around 30 special teams for surprise inspections as part of the wider enforcement campaign. They will investigate food preparation areas, storage facilities, ingredient quality, hygiene conditions and compliance with food safety regulations.
Recent inspections have already resulted in large seizures. Food safety officials in Bengaluru visited dozens of three-star and five-star hotels and found a huge amount of food products that were unsafe or unsuitable for consumption. The findings add to the scrutiny of food handling practices even at high-end hotels that charge high prices.
Khader’s warning is a broad message to the food industry: compliance cannot be seen as optional. Enterprises should keep kitchens clean, store ingredients properly, monitor expiry dates and comply with Food Safety and Standards Authority of India regulations.
The minister has also emphasized the public health aspect of the campaign, saying the aim is to make Karnataka healthier. The government is trying to protect consumers from the risk of disease if food is eaten outside of their homes (from bad hygiene, adulterated ingredients or bad storage of food).
The ongoing inspections are likely to lead to more rigorous internal checks for food businesses. Restaurant owners, hotel operators, canteen managers and food vendors will have to make sure ingredients are properly labelled and stored in kitchens, kitchens are hygienic, expired products are removed, and food is prepared according to safety standards.
As inspections are expanding throughout Karnataka, Khader has a clear message: food safety checks won’t be limited to a particular kind of business or place of operation. Businesses that violate safety standards will be issued notices (not only administrative but also criminal charges if the violation is severe) or closed.
The government still has to make sure the crackdown continues to be done at all businesses in the state. But if consumers feel safe and trust the food they serve at hotels, restaurants, and canteens, a higher level of enforcement is better for them.
