FSSAI Tightens Noose Over Food Safety Violations
In a major crackdown on establishments compromising public health, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued strict compliance notices to several high-profile entities, including the Radisson Blu Hotel in New Delhi. Operated by M/s AB Hotels Limited, the luxury hotel has been warned of potential license cancellation if severe safety and hygiene violations are not rectified immediately.
Surprise inspections conducted by regulatory teams uncovered alarming discrepancies in the hotel's food handling, storage, and sanitation practices. The findings point towards widespread neglect of basic food safety protocols, prompting the authorities to demand an immediate and detailed action-taken report backed by documentary evidence.
Kitchen Lapses: Rusted Equipment and Spoiled Produce
The inspection report revealed multiple critical shortcomings within the hotel premises, including rusted machinery, leaking freezers, and inadequate temperature-monitoring mechanisms. Poor ventilation, damp floors, and insufficient lighting further added to the list of hygiene violations.
Most concerningly, the inspection teams discovered moldy and decayed fruits and vegetables being processed for consumption. Raw and cooked foods, as well as vegetarian and non-vegetarian items, were not stored separately, violating core safety standards. Furthermore, cooking oil used in the kitchens exhibited Total Polar Compound (TPC) levels well beyond permissible safety limits without mandatory quality testing.
E-Commerce Giants BigBasket and Flipkart Under the Scanner
The regulatory net has also expanded to digital commerce platforms. FSSAI has served show-cause notices to e-commerce giants BigBasket and Flipkart, alongside Gemini Edibles and Fats India Limited, over misleading health claims associated with food products. Investigations revealed that some of these entities were facilitating the sale of food items through their platforms without holding valid central e-commerce licenses.
The regulatory body has asked these companies to justify why legal proceedings under the Food Safety and Standards Act should not be initiated against them for violating consumer trust and statutory norms.
Strict Compliance Mandated by Regulatory Authority
FSSAI has made it clear that consumer health remains non-negotiable. All penalized entities have been directed to submit comprehensive compliance reports detailing corrective measures. Failure to meet the required standards will result in swift penal actions, including the formal suspension or revocation of operational licenses.
