Bengaluru's food safety watchdogs have shifted their gaze from luxury hotels to the city's bustling paying guest accommodations, uncovering concerning hygiene lapses in kitchens that feed thousands of residents daily. The Friday inspections revealed expired ingredients, improper storage, and in one shocking case, bed bug powder found alongside food articles.

Key facts

  • 64 PG accommodations inspected across urban and rural Bengaluru
  • 23 notices issued to PG owners for food safety violations
  • 1 dining area sealed due to unhygienic conditions
  • 12 food samples collected for laboratory analysis

What inspectors found

The Food Safety and Drug Administration team examined kitchens against India's food safety regulations, checking everything from preparation methods to ingredient quality. They discovered expired curd, bisibele bath powder, and rice flour in use—items immediately seized. Synthetic food color raised additional red flags.

At Nandana Elite PG in Bommasandra, the situation turned particularly alarming. Inspectors found bed bug powder on dining tables near food, while unused materials crowded the drinking water area. The overall conditions proved so concerning that officials sealed the dining space entirely.

Industry response

PG owners acknowledge the challenges, particularly among budget accommodations. Bhaskar Reddy, president of the PG Owners' Welfare Association, notes that while most registered owners follow hygiene protocols, the city's estimated 30,000 PGs include many operating outside association guidelines.

"Last time, when the Health Minister warned PG owners to maintain hygiene and food safety standards, we created awareness not to store items for long time in fridge, use fresh vegetables and meat, and take pest control measures and maintain cleanliness," Reddy stated.

Moving forward

The department has issued clear instructions: food must be stored safely, quality ingredients used, kitchens maintained hygienically, and expired items properly disposed. All food handlers must comply with safety rules—a message that now echoes beyond five-star hotels to the everyday kitchens serving Bengaluru's migrant professionals and students.