Bengaluru: Rats and rat droppings were found among sacks of rice at an Indira Canteen kitchen-cum-warehouse in Gottigere during a surprise inspection by the Food Safety and Drug Administration (FDA) Department on Tuesday.
The government-run subsidised eatery was found to have several alleged food safety violations, prompting officials to shut and seal the kitchen-cum-warehouse.
Rats found among food ingredients
Officials said rats were seen moving between rice sacks stored at the Gottigere facility, with rat droppings also found among raw ingredients used to prepare food.
The inspection reportedly revealed unhygienic food-handling and storage conditions, along with non-compliant labelling, misbranding and other violations under Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) rules.
Srinivas K, Commissioner of the Food Safety and Drug Administration Department, said the conditions at Gottigere were particularly concerning.
“In Gottigere, we found rats and their droppings amid raw ingredients for cooking food. We have sealed the kitchen and will conduct an inquiry on Friday,” he said.
Two other Indira Canteens inspected
FDA officials also inspected Indira Canteens at Lingarajapuram and Singasandra as part of the surprise inspections.
According to the department, the Lingarajapuram facility was found to be in relatively better condition than the Gottigere kitchen.
Officials issued notices to the food business operators responsible for all three canteens.
Food samples sent for testing
During the inspections, authorities collected samples of several food ingredients and prepared items from the kitchens.
The samples included pulses, turmeric powder, cooking oil, jaggery, salt, sugar and prepared food. The samples have been sent to a designated food laboratory to assess their quality and compliance with food safety standards.
The inspections come amid an intensified food safety crackdown in Bengaluru, with authorities conducting checks at eateries and food establishments across the city.
The Gottigere kitchen will remain sealed while officials conduct a further inquiry into the reported hygiene and storage violations.