CH NEWS,
BENGALURU
Karnataka has intensified food safety enforcement, inspecting 1,849 establishments and sending over 2,400 food samples for laboratory testing.
The Food Safety Division of the Department of Food Safety and Drugs Administration has stepped up inspections across the State to ensure hygiene and prevent food safety violations, Health Minister U.T. Khader said on Monday.
Khader said inspections were conducted at 629 hotels serving backward-class communities, during which 1,860 food samples were collected and submitted for laboratory analysis.
Another 331 hotels functioning under the Department of Social Welfare were inspected, with 556 food samples collected and sent for testing.
The enforcement teams also inspected 889 food establishments located at 186 bus stations. Notices were issued to 206 establishments where unhygienic conditions were found, while ₹55,000 was collected in spot fines.
The statewide drive follows a surprise inspection at a global fast-food outlet in Mangaluru after a customer complained that an online food order contained spoiled and foul-smelling chicken.
Officials inspected the outlet’s kitchen, storeroom and cold-storage facilities and sealed its godown. Food samples were collected and sent for laboratory testing. Further legal and administrative action will be decided based on the laboratory reports.
The enforcement drive has also been expanded to Mysuru city, with officials continuing inspections and investigations.
“Food safety enforcement has been intensified across the State to ensure hygiene and safety.” UT Khader, Health Minister
Food safety drive
- 1,849: Establishments inspected
- 2,416: Food samples collected
- 629: Hotels serving backward-class communities inspected
- 1,860: Samples from these hotels
- 331: Social Welfare hotels inspected
- 556: Samples collected
- 889: Bus-station establishments inspected
- 206: Notices issued
- ₹55,000: Spot fines imposed
Mangaluru outlet inspected
The statewide drive followed a surprise inspection at a global fast-food outlet in Mangaluru after a customer alleged receiving spoiled, foul-smelling chicken through an online order. Officials inspected the kitchen, storeroom and cold-storage facilities and sealed the outlet’s godown. Samples were collected for laboratory testing. Authorities said further legal and administrative action would depend on the test results. Inspections have also been expanded across Mysuru city.
