87 kg expired sweets, 105 kg expired food: The complete list of 5-star hotels across India that have been raided recently and have revealed serious lapses

When it comes to high-end 5-star hotels, we consumers often assume the food and hygiene will be flawless compared to local markets and street joints. But, when such places are reported to serve expired food under unhygienic conditions, it makes you question the higher rates you are being charged. In an unfortunate incident, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), has issued notices to two five-star hotels in Delhi over serious food safety and hygiene violations. Scroll down to read the details.According to media reports, FSSAI issued notices to JW Marriott and Andaz at Delhi’s Aerocity over serious food safety and hygiene violations, including active cockroaches near freezers, expired food, poor sanitation and improper storage practices. According to sources, the inspection led to 59 deficiencies in total. The notices have been issued to Juniper Hotels Pvt Ltd, which operates the Andaz hotel at Aerocity, after an inspection uncovered "serious food safety violations. Also, a notice has been issued to JW Marriott, a unit of Aria Hotels and Consultancy Services Pvt Ltd, over "serious food safety violations and non-compliance with FSSAI requirements."According to officials, during the inspection at Andaz, FSSAI detected several serious food safety and hygiene deficiencies, including improper segregation of vegetarian and non-vegetarian food, pest activity, poor sanitation, inadequate food-handler hygiene and improper food storage. Officials also found around 87 kg of expired sweets, an expired cake base and bread packets in the commercial kitchen. Other deficiencies included inadequate temperature monitoring, improper allergen segregation, poor waste management, structural and maintenance issues and inadequate supplier verification and receiving practices. Mouldy apples and rotten tomatoes were found, while several food items were stored in the open.ID@undefined Caption not available.ID@undefined Caption not available.ID@undefined Caption not available.ID@undefined Caption not available.The team also collected samples of cow ghee, veg mayonnaise, creamy coconut milk powder, honey twigs, yellow masoor dal, tomato sauce, orange marmalade and coconut cookies for laboratory analysis. According to the officials, they also found active cockroaches near freezers and mosquitoes in the grinding room, along with spider webs. The regulator said chillers were situated directly between two bathrooms, with exhaust venting into the chiller section.ID@undefined Caption not available.ID@undefined Caption not available.ID@undefined Caption not available.ID@undefined Caption not available.As per reports, FSSAI has directed the hotel company to take immediate corrective action on the violations and submit a compliance report with supporting evidence at the earliest.Also, earlier this month, the Food Safety and Drug Administration (FDA) department had flagged multiple food safety violations ranging from unhygienic storage, fungal growth on vegetables and inadequate segregation of vegetarian and non-vegetarian food items at some other high-end 3-star and 5-star hotels of Bengaluru. According to an ANI report, during a surprise inspection drive across 26 hotels in the city, safety officials found and seized rotten meat, chicken, fish and expired bakery products among other unsafe foods. During the inspections, officials found several food safety violations, including non-compliance with FSSAI labelling requirements, improper labelling and misbranding of food products, storage of expired food items, and unhygienic food handling and storage conditions.The regulatory body sent notices to the concerned Food Business Operators (FBOs). Adjudication proceedings under the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 were also initiated before the Adjudicating Officer.According to the Food Safety and Drug Administration, the following hotels were found violating food safety norms and are under scanner.The Lalit Ashok (Annex South): The authorities seized 32 litres of expired milk. They also seized 76 kg of meat and 200 kg of vegetables. -Shangri-La Bengaluru: 15 kg of meat seized.Four Seasons Hotel Bengaluru: 19 kg of meat seized.Vivanta Bengaluru Whitefield: 3 kg of expired bakery products.Taj Yeshwantpur: 72 kg of meat/fish seized.The Radisson Blu (The Atrium): 105 kg of expired food articles seized, comprising 50 kg of chicken, 25 kg of meat, 23 kg of fish, and 7 kg of vegetables.According to FDA officials, food samples collected during the drive included tea powder, chicken, mutton, fish, edible oil, chilli powder, turmeric powder, tomato sauce, lemon juice, cheese, papad, cashew nuts, ginger, pepper powder, spice powder and milk, among other food products. It is reported that 30 special teams had been constituted for such surprise inspections, and 35 food samples have been sent to the laboratory for testing. The inspection drive was launched on the directions of Karnataka Health and Family Welfare Minister UT Khader following several complaints from members of the public, including those shared on social media, alleging unhygienic practices and the sale of substandard food at various eateries.In response, a statement issued by Andaz Delhi Aerocity said, “At Andaz Delhi Aerocity, the health, safety and hygiene of guests are, and will always remain, the highest priority. A food safety inspection was carried out at the property by officials of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India on 22nd June 2026. We have fully co-operated with the inspection, furnished all information and details sought, and have submitted a detailed action taken report. We take these matters with the utmost seriousness and have acted promptly to address the observations raised. Rigorous food safety and hygiene practices are central to how we operate, and we continue to review and strengthen them across every part of our operations. We remain committed to working closely and transparently with the regulatory authorities, and to upholding the trust and confidence our guests place in us.”