Expired food seized from Bengaluru Instamart outlet in fresh crackdown

Several expired food products were seized during food safety raids at outlets of quick-commerce platform Swiggy Instamart and a local online grocery shop, Leo Mart, in Bengaluru, as authorities stepped up inspections following complaints of violations.The health department conducted surprise inspections at the outlets and found expired food products being stored and sold, along with other alleged violations of prescribed food safety norms. The premises were seized temporarily pending further action, officials said.The seized products and records are being examined as part of the investigation. Further action will be taken based on the findings, officials added.The latest inspections come amid an intensified food safety crackdown across Bengaluru, with authorities checking restaurants, hotels, clubs, warehouses and food distribution facilities. Last month, food safety officials flagged alleged unhygienic conditions at a Zepto warehouse operated by Nippon Express in Bengaluru Rural. Visuals from the facility showed packets of food items lying around, cans of soft drinks and milk products stored haphazardly and garbage scattered across the floor.The crackdown has also uncovered violations at several premium restaurants and hotels. At Skyye Lounge in Bengaluru's UB City, officials found the kitchen in an "unhygienic" condition and ordered it closed. They seized 45 kg of rotten chicken and beef, some of it with fungal growth, along with 6 kg of vegetable cutlets and 15 litres of used cooking oil. Milk and curd packets that had expired about 10 days earlier were also found.As much as132 kg of food items were seized and disposed of during inspections at six premium restaurants in UB City and on Brigade Road.Earlier inspections at three-star and five-star hotels also found expired dairy and bakery products, improperly stored meat and fish, fungal growth in vegetables, poor kitchen hygiene and violations related to food labelling and segregation of vegetarian and non-vegetarian items.At The Radisson Blu (The Atria), officials seized 105 kg of expired food products, including 50 kg of chicken, 23 kg of meat, 7 kg of fish and 25 kg of vegetables. Other hotels where food was seized included The Lalit Ashok, Shangri-La Bengaluru, Four Seasons Hotel Bengaluru, Vivanta Bengaluru Whitefield and Taj Yeshwantpur.Food safety officials have also inspected clubs and food storage facilities supplying major hotels and restaurants. Notices have been issued to establishments where violations were detected, with authorities warning of legal action under food safety regulations.- EndsPublished On: Sep 8, 2026 10:09 IST