Bengaluru PG Residents Demand Food Safety Inspections Amid Staff Shortage

Bengaluru residents staying in paying guest (PG) accommodations across localities like BTM Layout and Nagasandra are calling for regular food safety inspections of PG kitchens, as the Food Safety Department continues a citywide drive against unhygienic eateries. Thousands of students and working professionals rely on PGs for daily meals, prompting growing demands for surprise checks on storage, ingredient quality, and overall cleanliness.

The push for PG kitchen checks follows a major drive by the department targeting commercial and public food outlets across Bengaluru. On Tuesday, officials inspected government-run Indira Canteens after concluding a three-day operation across several star hotels, pubs, and major food chains. During that operation, inspectors collected 77 food samples for laboratory testing and seized 132 kilograms of food.

The inspections uncovered several serious health violations at commercial outlets, including expired food products, improperly stored meat, fish, and chicken, fungal growth on vegetables, and unhygienic kitchen conditions. Officials also reported artificial colours, poor segregation of vegetarian and non-vegetarian food, and severe violations that led to the sealing of certain kitchens alongside notices issued to non-compliant establishments.

Despite the expanding scope of the drive, officials face severe operational constraints. Of the 210 sanctioned Food Safety Officer posts in the department, only 97 are currently filled, leaving 113 positions vacant—a shortage of 53.8 per cent. Additional vacancies among food analysts and inspectors have further constrained the department's ability to cover the city's expanding network of food providers.

PG residents argue that staff shortages should not leave their kitchens unmonitored. Vincent Paul, a resident staying in a PG near Nagasandra, stated that daily consumers require the Food Safety Department to bring PG kitchens under its inspection net due to concerns over cooking practices, food handling, and cleanliness. Similarly, Vanitha V, who resides in a PG in BTM Layout, urged officials to treat PGs like any other food establishment by subjecting them to surprise inspections, hygiene checks, and mandatory food sampling.

The department has also expanded its scrutiny to other sectors, collecting 13 cosmetic samples from 10 locations following reports of substandard products. Health Minister UT Khader warned of strict action against vendors selling poor-quality cosmetics and highlighted the need for improved hygiene at tattoo parlours, alongside monitoring imported food items. However, for Bengaluru's growing PG population, the immediate priority remains ensuring basic hygiene in the kitchens that feed them daily.