Published Aug 08, 2026 | 9:34 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 08, 2026 | 9:34 PM
Health and Family Welfare Minister UT Khader ordered the inspection drive after his department received multiple complaints.
Synopsis: The inspection teams will check star hotels, restaurants, roadside eateries and other food establishments. They will check for the use of expired ingredients, unhygienic kitchen conditions, improper food storage, banned artificial colours and chemicals, and compliance with food safety regulations.
Simultaneous inspections of hotels, restaurants, and roadside eateries in Karnataka evoked a nauseating effect as several popular joints, including upmarket star hotels, were found stocking food items unsafe for human consumption.
Initial reports suggested the inspections found stale meat and dairy products—if not found in the checks—would have ended up on dining tables.
In Bengaluru alone, state food safety teams inspected 26 three-star and five-star hotels on Friday, 7 August, and seized unsafe items.
The items, reports said, 76 kg of meat and 32 litres of expired milk from The Lalit Ashok, 105 kg from Radisson Blu, and similar hauls from Shangri-La, Four Seasons, Taj Yeshwantpur, and Vivanta Whitefield.
Violations included improper storage, cross-contamination, and poor labelling.
Earlier, the Karnataka Health and Family Welfare Department constituted 30 special teams to carry out statewide surprise inspections at hotels, restaurants and food outlets, following a rise in complaints over poor food quality and hygiene.
Health and Family Welfare Minister UT Khader ordered the inspection drive after his department received multiple complaints from the public, including those shared on social media, alleging unhygienic practices and food safety violations.
The teams, comprising officials from the Food Safety and Drug Administration Department, will inspect star hotels, restaurants, roadside eateries and other food establishments. They will check for the use of expired ingredients, unhygienic kitchen conditions, improper food storage, banned artificial colours and chemicals, and compliance with food safety regulations.
Khader warned that establishments found violating food safety norms would face strict action, including licence suspension, legal proceedings and FIRs in serious cases.
The department said the drive will continue over the coming weeks and will later be extended to colleges, hostels and catering services.
The inspectors will check whether establishments are using ingredients past their expiry dates, maintaining hygiene and complying with food safety regulations. Use of banned chemicals and colours will also invite action.
