Mysuru: Karnataka’s intensified food safety crackdown has uncovered expired meat and other perishable food items at hotels and food establishments in Mysuru, with officials seizing unsafe products, collecting samples and issuing notices during inspections conducted across the city and district.
The latest operation was carried out on Saturday by food safety officials as part of a wider enforcement drive by the Karnataka Food Safety and Drug Administration Department. The inspections focused on checking food quality, storage conditions and compliance with hygiene and safety regulations.
Expired chicken seized at hotel
During the inspections, officials visited the Rio Meridian Hotel in Mysuru and seized 9 kg of chicken after finding that it had passed its expiry date.
The discovery prompted officials to remove the meat from use as part of the enforcement action. Food safety regulations require establishments to ensure that expired food is not stored or served to customers.
Officials also inspected four other hotels as part of the operation.
At the Grand Mercure Hotel, authorities seized 68 kg of meat, while 4 kg of mushrooms were seized from Q Star Hotel.
The seizures formed part of the department’s efforts to identify food products that may pose a risk to consumers because of improper storage, expiry or other quality concerns.
Three resorts inspected
The inspection drive was extended to resorts in Mysuru and Nanjangud taluks.
Officials inspected three resorts during the operation and issued three notices to establishments following the checks.
The notices were issued as part of the enforcement process against establishments found with shortcomings during the inspections.
Officials also collected food samples for laboratory analysis to determine whether the products met prescribed safety and quality standards.
Five food samples collected
A total of five food samples were collected during the inspection drive.
Of these, two were legal samples, while three were survey samples.
The samples will undergo laboratory analysis. The results will help authorities determine whether the food products comply with applicable food safety standards and whether further action is required against the establishments concerned.
Laboratory testing is an important part of food safety enforcement, particularly when the quality or safety of a product cannot be conclusively established through visual inspection alone.
16 kg of food discarded
Apart from the products seized by officials, around 16 kg of expired and ready-to-eat food items were discarded during the inspections.
The disposal was intended to ensure that food considered unsuitable for consumption did not return to circulation.
The action also highlights the importance of proper stock management in hotels and other food establishments, where perishable products must be stored under suitable conditions and monitored regularly to prevent them from crossing their expiry dates.
Statewide food safety crackdown
The Mysuru operation is part of a broader crackdown being conducted across Karnataka following complaints and reports of food safety violations at hotels, restaurants and other establishments dealing with food.
The Karnataka Food Safety and Drug Administration Department has intensified inspections to ensure that food businesses comply with prescribed safety and hygiene requirements.
Officials have been checking food storage areas, refrigeration facilities, kitchens and food stocks during the inspections.
The department’s enforcement activities are aimed at preventing expired, contaminated or improperly stored food from reaching consumers.
Focus on hygiene and compliance
Hotels and restaurants are required to maintain proper hygiene and follow food safety regulations while purchasing, storing, preparing and serving food.
Regular monitoring of expiry dates is particularly important for meat, vegetables, mushrooms and other perishable products.
The seizure of large quantities of meat and other food items in Mysuru has highlighted the importance of maintaining proper inventory records and ensuring that expired products are removed from storage immediately.
Food establishments are also expected to maintain clean preparation and storage areas and follow appropriate temperature-control practices for perishable products.
Further action may follow
The notices issued during the latest inspections and the collection of samples indicate that the enforcement process will continue beyond the initial checks.
Authorities can take further action based on the findings of laboratory tests and the nature of violations identified during inspections.
The department’s wider campaign is intended not only to identify violations but also to encourage food businesses to strengthen their internal food safety systems.
For consumers, regular inspections provide an important layer of protection against unsafe food practices.
The Mysuru inspections therefore serve as a reminder to hotels, restaurants and resorts that compliance with food safety and hygiene standards is essential. With the statewide crackdown continuing, establishments found storing or serving expired and unsafe food are likely to face closer scrutiny and further regulatory action.