The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has directed major five-star hotels to follow a "zero-tolerance" approach toward food safety violations, ahead of the two-day BRICS Summit in New Delhi. The regulator has also stepped up random inspections to check hygiene and compliance standards.
What FSSAI Has Told Five-Star Hotels
FSSAI recently held a meeting with representatives of leading five-star hotels from across the country, where it stressed strict compliance with food safety requirements. The meeting reviewed regulatory compliance, hygiene benchmarks, kitchen safety protocols, and overall food safety, with major five-star properties sharing updates on their existing compliance frameworks and adherence to safety norms.
FSSAI made it clear that violations would face a "zero-tolerance" approach, as preparations for the BRICS Summit intensify.
Why Inspections Have Ramped Up
Ahead of the summit, the food regulator has significantly increased random inspections at five-star establishments, to ensure hygiene and food safety standards are actually being followed. This move came after inspections at two major hotels in Delhi's Aerocity found several deficiencies. The hotels identified in the report were JW Marriott and Hotel Andaz. The BRICS Summit is scheduled to be held at the Bharat Mandapam convention centre in Delhi.
What Inspectors Actually Found
During inspections of the kitchens at JW Marriott and Hotel Andaz, officials reported issues including foul smell, cockroaches, and flies. Several bread packets carrying expired stickers were also found, and around 87 kg of expired sweets discovered in the confectionery area were destroyed on the spot.
In the pastry section, inspectors found expired cake bases along with flies and cockroaches. The inspection exercise continued for around two days, during which 59 deficiencies were recorded in total, a fairly significant number for establishments at this tier of hospitality.
With the BRICS Summit approaching, FSSAI's increased inspections and zero-tolerance direction put renewed focus on hygiene standards at high-end hotels expected to maintain strict food safety compliance, particularly given the international attention such a summit brings.
What Hotels Should Be Doing
Hotels should maintain strict hygiene throughout kitchens and food-storage areas, regularly check expiry dates, control pests, and ensure food is stored and handled safely. Routine internal inspections and quick correction of deficiencies can help prevent food safety violations and protect guests from avoidable health risks, especially at a moment when scrutiny of these standards is at its highest.
FAQs
Q1. Why has FSSAI increased inspections at five-star hotels?
FSSAI has stepped up inspections ahead of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, following the discovery of hygiene deficiencies at two major hotels in Delhi's Aerocity.
Q2. What deficiencies did FSSAI find during hotel inspections?
Inspectors found issues including foul smell, cockroaches, flies, expired bread packets, and around 87 kg of expired sweets, with 59 total deficiencies recorded over the two-day inspection.
Q3. What is FSSAI's stance on food safety violations ahead of the summit?
FSSAI has directed five-star hotels to follow a "zero-tolerance" approach toward food safety violations as preparations for the BRICS Summit intensify.