Bengaluru: The Karnataka Health Department has detected several food safety violations at the canteen of Apollo Hospital on Bannerghatta Road during an inspection, including expired ingredients, stale bread, misbranded food products and non-compliant kitchen equipment.
The inspection was conducted as part of a three-day special enforcement drive launched by the Food Safety Division of Karnataka’s Food Safety and Drug Administration Department to check compliance with food safety regulations across Bengaluru.
Expired ingredients found in hospital canteen
During the inspection, officials found several expired raw materials stored in the canteen kitchen.
The expired items reportedly included rava, icing sugar, maida and bakery products. Officials also seized four packets of mixture and nine packets of pani puri that had exceeded their stated shelf life.
The presence of expired food ingredients in a hospital canteen has raised concerns because the facility serves food to patients, attendants, visitors and hospital staff.
Authorities are examining the violations under applicable food safety regulations and are expected to take further action based on the inspection findings.
Stale bread and plastic chopping boards detected
Inspectors also found stale bread at the canteen.
The inspection team identified two plastic chopping boards being used in the kitchen. Officials flagged the boards as non-compliant with food safety requirements, citing the potential risk of bacterial contamination associated with improper food preparation surfaces.
Maintaining clean and appropriate food-contact surfaces is an important part of preventing cross-contamination during food preparation.
The findings formed part of the violations recorded by officials during the inspection.
Misbranded food products seized
The inspection team also detected several food products that officials identified as misbranded.
The items reportedly included nine packets of pani puri, five packets of meethi leaves, six 30-kg packets of fried gram, one 30-kg packet of green peas and five 30-kg packets of moong dal.
The department has been carrying out inspections to identify products that do not comply with prescribed labelling and food safety requirements.
Misbranding and inadequate labelling can make it difficult for consumers and authorities to establish details such as the product’s contents, manufacturer, batch information and shelf life.
Part of three-day enforcement drive
The inspection at the Apollo Hospital canteen was part of a wider three-day enforcement drive conducted from August 7 to 9.
The Food Safety Division of Karnataka’s Food Safety and Drug Administration Department carried out the operation under the guidance of Health and Family Welfare Minister U T Khader.
The drive covered 60 three-star and five-star hotels across Bengaluru Urban district and the Greater Bengaluru Area.
A total of 77 food samples were collected during the inspections and sent for laboratory analysis.
Multiple violations detected across Bengaluru
The enforcement drive uncovered several types of food safety violations at establishments inspected by officials.
These included the storage of expired food products, improper or non-compliant food labelling, unsuitable storage of meat and poultry, unhygienic food preparation areas and fungal growth in vegetables.
Officials also reported inadequate segregation of vegetarian and non-vegetarian food items at some establishments.
The findings indicate that food safety checks are being intensified across commercial kitchens and food establishments in Bengaluru.
Large quantities of food products seized
The enforcement operation also resulted in the seizure of substantial quantities of food products that were reportedly expired, mislabelled or otherwise found to be unsuitable.
According to the department, authorities seized 640 kg of mislabelled cereals and other food products during the statewide enforcement activities.
They also seized 276 kg of rotten vegetables, 45 litres of expired milk and curd, 12 kg of expired bakery items, and 67 kg of mislabelled or expired food products.
In addition, officials seized 49 litres of used cooking oil.
The seizures were carried out as part of efforts to prevent potentially unsafe food products from reaching consumers.
Notices issued to violators
The Food Safety Department said notices had been issued to establishments where violations were detected.
The department has also recommended legal action before the competent adjudicating authorities in cases where violations warrant further proceedings.
The inspection findings and laboratory analysis of collected food samples will help authorities determine the next course of action.
Officials are continuing to monitor establishments to ensure compliance with food safety requirements.
Focus on food served to consumers
The enforcement drive comes amid increasing scrutiny of food safety practices at hotels, restaurants, institutional kitchens and other establishments across Bengaluru.
Authorities are focusing on issues such as proper storage, expiry dates, labelling, kitchen hygiene and safe handling of food.
The inspection of the Apollo Hospital canteen has brought particular attention to the importance of maintaining strict food safety standards in institutional kitchens.
Hospitals cater to people who may already be vulnerable because of illness, making hygienic food preparation and safe storage especially important.
Inspections to continue
The Karnataka Health Department has indicated that inspections will continue across Bengaluru and other parts of the state.
Officials are expected to conduct further checks to ensure that food establishments comply with prescribed safety standards and that consumers are provided with safe and hygienically prepared food.
The department’s enforcement activities are also aimed at preventing expired, mislabelled and improperly stored products from entering the food supply chain.