Karnataka Food Safety Department Issues Hygiene Advisory to Bengaluru Eateries

Following recent intensive inspections that uncovered expired food products and poor hygienic conditions at food establishments across Bengaluru, the Karnataka Food Safety and Drug Administration issued a detailed advisory on Tuesday, directing hotels, dhabas, restaurants, and other food service establishments to strictly comply with food safety norms.

The advisory requires all food service establishments to prominently display their food safety licence and inform authorities about any changes. The department directed establishments to maintain clean and well-ventilated kitchens, provide separate sinks for raw food and utensils, and ensure the proper washing of all equipment and crockery. Establishments must also source raw materials from reliable suppliers and store them hygienically.

To prevent cross-contamination, hotels and restaurants have been instructed to separately prepare and store vegetarian and non-vegetarian food. The department mandated that raw meat, seafood, and vegetables must also be stored separately. Additionally, food service providers must maintain strict temperature controls: cold food must be kept below 5°C, hot food above 60°C, and frozen items stored at or below -18°C.

Another key directive requires establishments to avoid reusing cooking oil beyond permissible limits and to dispose of used oil through authorised channels. The advisory emphasizes personal hygiene for all food handlers, who must wear clean uniforms and head covers, practice hand hygiene, maintain medical fitness records, and participate in regular food safety training sessions.

Establishments must use potable water, regularly test water quality, and maintain official records of these tests. They are also required to offer free drinking water and hot-water facilities to customers while keeping toilet facilities clean.

Finally, the department directed food outlets to implement regular pest-control measures, maintain clean premises, keep waste bins covered, and remove food waste on a regular basis. Any expired or mould-affected food items must be removed immediately and safely disposed of.