Food Safety Officials Inspect Bengaluru Clubs, Issue Notices for Violations

Food safety officials conducted a special inspection drive across several prominent clubs in Bengaluru city and BBMP limits on August 25, issuing notices after uncovering multiple hygiene, sanitation, and food safety violations.

The drive was carried out by the Food Safety Division of the Department of Food Safety and Drugs Administration under the guidance of Health and Family Welfare Minister U.T. Khader. Food Safety Officers were deputed across the city to verify whether establishments were complying with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and Rules, 2011.

During the drive, teams inspected Century Club, KSCA Club, Bowring Club, Catholic Club, Tennis Club, Vijayanagara Club, Mahalakshmi Layout Club, and Malleshwaram Club. Several food safety and sanitation lapses were detected across the inspected premises.

At Bowring Club, inspecting officers discovered unhygienic kitchen conditions along with a cockroach infestation in the food storage area. Similar cockroach infestations and insanitary conditions were found at Century Club. Formal notices were served to both establishments following the findings.

Inspectors at KSCA Club flagged multiple deficiencies, including poor personal hygiene standards among staff, the use of plastic cutting boards, blocked drainage systems, and food-labelling violations. The club was also cited for poor cleanliness in its frozen storage facility, improper segregation and storage of vegetarian and non-vegetarian food items, and the absence of hot water in the utensil-washing section.

At Catholic Club, authorities detected food-labelling violations, poor sanitation, a cockroach infestation, and seized 10 packets of expired mushroom products. At Tennis Club, staff handling food items were unable to produce required medical certificates during the inspection.

Inspections at Vijayanagara Club and Mahalakshmi Layout Club revealed sanitation deficiencies and labelling violations. Malleshwaram Club was also flagged for improper food labelling, poor cleanliness, and a cockroach infestation. Notices were issued to all clubs where lapses were identified.

During the drive, officials also collected samples of drinking water and used cooking oil that appeared suspicious. These samples have been forwarded to the Government Food Laboratory for detailed testing, with officials stating that further legal action will depend on the laboratory test reports.