Karnataka health officials shut down several Bengaluru hotels and restaurants after surprise inspections revealed rotten meat and expired dairy products.
The crackdown follows a surge in public complaints and social-media reports alleging serious hygiene violations at high-end dining establishments. The operation targeted luxury venues to ensure public health safety in the city's hospitality sector.
Karnataka Health and Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao and officials from the Food Safety and Drug Administration conducted the raids. The operation included inspections of 26 three-star and five-star hotels [8]. While reports on the scale of deployment vary, officials deployed between 30 [6] and 60 [7] special teams to carry out the surprise checks.
Among the affected venues was Skyye Lounge in UB City, which was shut down following the discovery of unfit food. Authorities seized a total of 132 kg [3, 4] of rotten food, which included fungus-infected meat and expired curd. Specifically, 45 kg [1, 2] of rotten meat was recovered during the raids.
Inspectors also seized 15 litres [5] of used cooking oil. To determine the extent of the contamination, officials collected 35 samples [9] and sent them for laboratory testing.
The Food Safety and Drug Administration officials said the inspections were necessary to address the hygiene lapses reported by the public. The drive focused on the storage and quality of raw materials used in luxury hotels to prevent foodborne illnesses.
“Authorities seized a total of 132 kg of rotten food, which included fungus-infected meat and expired curd.”
This citywide crackdown indicates a shift toward stricter enforcement of food safety standards in Bengaluru's luxury hospitality segment. By targeting high-profile venues like those in UB City, the Karnataka government is signaling that star ratings do not exempt establishments from basic hygiene mandates, likely in response to increased public scrutiny via social media.
