Food Safety Raids Uncover Cockroaches, Expired Items Near Vidhana Soudha

Karnataka health officials on Wednesday launched inspections across key food establishments in Bengaluru, uncovering cockroach infestations and expired food products at canteens situated near the Vidhana Soudha and on Magadi Road.

During a raid at the Mallige Hotel, located inside the Legislators House adjacent to the Vidhana Soudha, inspecting officials found the restaurant operating under unhygienic conditions. Cockroaches were discovered inside the kitchen, and officials noted that the establishment had failed to conduct required pest control measures.

The health department also inspected its own facility, the Arogya Soudha Canteen located on Magadi Road. Officials found that the canteen was maintained in an unhygienic state and was serving expired food items, including idli, rava, and coconut powder.

Inspectors further observed that food products at the Magadi Road canteen were improperly stored in violation of standard food safety guidelines. The facility had also failed to implement mandatory pest control measures.

Earlier on Wednesday, officials from the Food Safety and Drug Administration department carried out a separate inspection at a food and grocery supply warehouse that supplies major hotels and restaurants in the city. While the warehouse premises were found to be clean, inspectors identified several regulatory violations.

At the warehouse, officials found 146 kilograms of chicken that lacked a manufacturer FSSAI licence number, while the manufacturer licence for 40 kilograms of garlic was no longer in force. Multiple other items, including rice, spices, and dry fruits, were found to be mislabelled. The department issued a formal notice to the facility operators, confirming that legal action would follow under the relevant statutory provisions.

The inspections were conducted amid an ongoing statewide enforcement drive targeting restaurants, hotels, dark stores, and food establishments across Karnataka, which follows recent findings of unhygienic conditions at several five-star restaurants in Bengaluru.