Bengaluru’s well-known restaurant chain Empire is facing public scrutiny after its chicken kebabs, collected from the Gandhinagar (Anand Rao Circle) branch, were found unfit for consumption by the State Food Laboratory.
The issue came to light following a routine inspection by Food Safety Officer Ambarish Gowda on June 27. During the check, four packets (2 kg total) of chicken kebabs were collected and sent to the Public Health Institute’s lab. The lab report, dated July 11, revealed that the samples violated the Food Product Standards & Food Additives Regulations, 2011, rendering them unsafe under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
In response, BBMP’s Food Safety and Drug Administration (North Zone) issued a 30-day notice to the outlet, demanding a formal reply. The outlet may opt for re-testing at CFTRI, Mysuru, at its own cost.
Reacting to the incident, Empire Group CEO Shakir acknowledged the notice but refrained from delving into case specifics. He stated that the restaurant has since discontinued the use of food colouring in kebabs and assured that quality remains a top priority.
Given Empire’s long-standing popularity—especially for late-night meals and signature kebabs—the violation has alarmed loyal customers across Bengaluru.
This food safety breach has raised broader concerns over hygiene standards at high-footfall eateries in the city.