Mysuru: Karnataka's food safety authorities have intensified inspections across hotels, restaurants and other food establishments, seizing more than 1,000 kg of allegedly unsafe food items in recent operations across the state. The crackdown has uncovered expired food, rotten vegetables, fungal contamination and violations related to meat storage and hygiene.
Mysuru Hotels Face Action
The latest inspections were conducted across Mysuru on Saturday, August 15, as officials stepped up checks at hotels and resorts.
At the Rio Meridian Hotel, food safety officials seized 9 kg of chicken after finding that it had crossed its expiry date. At the Grand Mercure Hotel, another 68 kg of meat was confiscated, while officials seized 4 kg of mushrooms from Q Star Hotel.
According to The Times of India, inspections at three resorts in Mysuru and Nanjangud taluks also resulted in three notices being issued.
Officials collected five food samples for laboratory testing, including two legal samples and three survey samples. Around 16 kg of expired and perishable food was also discarded during the inspections.
Mangaluru KFC Raided After Consumer Complaint
According to The Times of India, a customer had complained that a Chicken Peri Peri Leg ordered online tasted stale and was unfit for consumption.
Officials inspected the outlet's kitchen, storeroom, cold storage, deep freezer and cooked and fried chicken stock. Food samples were collected and sent for laboratory analysis, while the outlet's godown was sealed.
Reports also flagged concerns over frozen chicken stock carrying older packing dates. Further action against the outlet is expected to depend on the laboratory test results.
KFC Issues Statement
The food safety crackdown also extended to Mangaluru, where officials KFC India, responding to the complaint and subsequent inspection at its Mangaluru outlet, said the information circulating about the brand does not present the complete facts. The company reiterated its commitment to maintaining stringent standards of food safety, quality and hygiene across its outlets.
In a statement, KFC India said it sources chicken from reputed suppliers across the country and complies with Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) guidelines, along with its global quality standards. The company maintained that the chicken served and stored at its outlets is handled as per prescribed norms and prepared fresh in-store every day.
KFC India further said that every piece of chicken undergoes multiple quality and safety checks, starting from the suppliers' farms through to the final product served to customers.
The company said it is cooperating fully with the concerned authorities and is reviewing the matter in accordance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements. It also invited customers seeking further information about its kitchen procedures and safety protocols to approach the restaurant manager for a kitchen tour.
The statement was issued by Neeki Singh, Team PR, KFC India, as food safety authorities continue inspections across establishments in the state. Further action in the Mangaluru matter is expected after laboratory test results and inspection findings are assessed by the authorities conducted a surprise inspection at a KFC outlet at City Centre on K.S. Rao Road following a consumer complaint.
Statewide Crackdown On Food Safety Violations
The inspections are part of a wider campaign by the Karnataka Food Safety and Drug Administration Department following similar enforcement drives in Bengaluru and other parts of the state.
According to India Today, recent inspections have resulted in the seizure of expired and unsafe food products from several establishments. Business Today reported that more than 1,000 kg of unsafe food items have been seized during the ongoing statewide operations.
Authorities have been examining issues including expired food products, poor hygiene, improper storage of meat and other food safety violations.
Lab Results Awaited
With inspections continuing across Karnataka, officials are expected to take further action based on laboratory reports and the findings of individual establishments.
The latest drive has placed hotels, restaurants, resorts and other food outlets under increased scrutiny as authorities seek to ensure compliance with food safety standards and protect consumers from potentially unsafe food.
KFC India, meanwhile, has issued an official statement, maintaining that the information circulating about the brand does not present the complete facts. In its response, the company reiterated its commitment to food safety, quality and hygiene and said it is cooperating with the concerned authorities.
Official Statement — KFC India“As a responsible brand, KFC is firmly committed to providing high levels of food safety, quality and hygiene. The information circulating doesn’t depict the true facts. We source high-quality chicken from reputed suppliers across the country and actively comply with FSSAI guidelines, along with certain global quality standards, to serve quality food to our customers.The chicken we serve and store is as per norms and is prepared in-store every day, and each piece undergoes multiple stringent quality and safety checks from the suppliers’ farm to the consumers’ plate. We’re fully cooperating with the concerned authorities and are reviewing the matter in accordance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements.Any customer who wishes to know more about KFC’s strict kitchen procedures and safety protocols can contact the restaurant manager for a kitchen tour.”
— Neeki Singh, Team PR, KFC India
The company’s statement comes as food safety authorities continue inspections across establishments in the state. Further action is expected once laboratory test results and inspection findings are assessed by the authorities.
