FDA Inspects Bengaluru's Indira Canteens After Rat Sightings
Food safety officials inspected Indira Canteens in Bengaluru following videos showing rats in kitchens. The Gottigere warehouse was sealed due to unhygienic conditions, and samples were collected for analysis.
Key takeaways
- Food safety authorities inspected Indira Canteens in Bengaluru following reports of rats in kitchens.
- The Gottigere Indira Canteen's warehouse was sealed due to unhygienic food handling and storage.
- Various food safety violations, including mislabeling and poor hygiene, were identified.
- Collected food samples will undergo laboratory analysis to ensure compliance with safety standards.
- These inspections occurred shortly after spoiled food was seized from several Bengaluru hotels.
The Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) in Bengaluru conducted inspections at Indira Canteens across the city after videos circulated on social media depicting rats in the kitchens. The searches targeted canteens in Gottigere, Lingarajapuram, and Singasandr.
What Happened
Inspections of Indira Canteen kitchens and a warehouse in Gottigere revealed multiple food safety violations. These included unhygienic food handling and storage conditions, non-compliant labeling, and misbranding. Consequently, the warehouse at the Gottigere Indira Canteen was sealed. Notices were issued to the operators of all three inspected establishments, with recommendations for legal action. Samples of various food products, such as pulses, turmeric powder, cooking oil, jaggery, salt, sugar, and prepared meals, were collected for laboratory analysis.
The FSDA stated that a special team was formed to assess the quality, safety, storage, labeling, and food handling practices. The department warned of strict legal action against businesses found violating food safety regulations.
Background
Indira Canteens are a flagship initiative of the Congress-led Karnataka government, offering heavily subsidized meals. The program was originally established by former chief minister Siddaramaiah between 2013 and 2018.
These inspections followed recent actions by the state's food safety department against several star hotels and high-end restaurants in Bengaluru, where large quantities of spoiled meat and vegetables were seized. Over 132 kg of food items, including rotten chicken, beef, duck, and fish, along with vegetables and cooking oil, were confiscated from five hotels.
Key Facts
- The Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) inspected Indira Canteens in Gottigere, Lingarajapuram, and Singasandr.
- Videos shared on social media showed rats in the kitchens and torn food packaging.
- The warehouse of the Indira Canteen at Gottigere was sealed due to unhygienic food handling and storage.
- Violations included non-compliant labeling, misbranding, and unhygienic food handling.
- Food samples were collected from the three establishments for laboratory analysis.
- Notices were issued, and legal action is recommended.
- The inspections followed the seizure of spoiled food from five Bengaluru hotels.
Story by Project Chintan
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