BENGALURU: A team from the Food Safety Division of Karnataka's Health Department on Wednesday conducted surprise inspections of food outlets on the state administrative campus and found expired food items, poor storage practices and pest-related hygiene lapses at the canteen located in the Arogya Soudha complex on Magadi Road, officials said.
Seizures and notices at government premises
Officials said the inspection covered the canteen at the Health Department headquarters as well as hotels and food business establishments operating within the precincts of Vidhana Soudha, Legislators' House and the MS Building. During the exercise, expired products including idli rava and coconut powder were seized from the Arogya Soudha kitchen.
The Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) issued advisory notices following observations that food items were not stored in accordance with FSSAI guidelines, and that pest-control measures had not been undertaken, leaving parts of the premises unhygienic, the department said in a statement.
Findings across inspected outlets
Inspectors reported a range of deficiencies across several establishments on the government campus:
- The Arogya Soudha canteen: expired ingredients, improper storage and lack of pest control;
- A Nandini parlour on the premises: violations related to labelling requirements;
- A restaurant inside Legislators' House: unhygienic conditions and presence of cockroaches in the kitchen;
- A hotel at the MS Building: serious hygiene lapses leading to closure until corrective action.
Where advisory notices were issued, food business operators have been instructed to remedy the shortcomings. In the case of the MS Building hotel, the operator submitted an undertaking stating that the deficiencies would be addressed and that the establishment would reopen only after permission from the Commissioner and in compliance with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and the applicable rules.
Enforcement and next steps
The FSDA statement said legal proceedings will be initiated before the Adjudicating Officer in respect of the violations detected. Action is also planned against the operator of the hotel that was closed, the department added.
| Establishment | Main Defects Noted | Action Taken |
|---|---|---|
| Arogya Soudha canteen (Magadi Road) | Expired idli rava, expired coconut powder, improper storage, lack of pest control | Seizure of expired items; advisory notice issued |
| Nandini Parlour (on premises) | Labelling violations | Advisory notice issued |
| Restaurant, Legislators' House | Unhygienic conditions; cockroaches in kitchen | Advisory notice issued |
| Hotel, MS Building | Unhygienic premises | Closed; undertaking given; reopening subject to Commissioner approval |
Public health and procedural implications
The presence of expired food items and evidence of pest infestation within government food premises raises concerns about routine compliance checks and the robustness of food-safety practices where officials and visitors dine. The FSDA’s move to issue advisory notices and to initiate adjudicatory proceedings signals an intent to enforce standards within state-run and privately operated outlets on government land.
Food business operators on the campus have been explicitly instructed to adhere to FSSAI norms on storage, labelling and pest management. The department’s statement reiterated that reopening of any closed establishment would require formal permission from the Commissioner after verification of corrective measures.
Context and wider compliance drive
Inspecting food businesses at high-profile government locations is part of routine enforcement activities by food-safety authorities, officials said. Such actions aim to ensure public health safeguards are met, particularly in places frequented by large numbers of people including employees, legislators and visitors to the administrative complex.
The FSDA has not released details of proposed penalties or timelines for the adjudication process. Affected operators are bound by the norms under the Food Safety and Standards Act and may face fines or other sanctions depending on the outcome of hearings before the Adjudicating Officer.
Further inspections of food premises on the campus are expected to continue as authorities monitor compliance and seek to prevent recurrence of the deficiencies detected during Wednesday’s checks.
Prakash Gowda
AI Karnataka Correspondent
