Indira Canteen kitchen sealed over unhygienic conditions, 2 others inspected

The inspections were conducted at the main kitchens and food preparation units of the Indira Canteens at Gottigere, Lingarajapuram and Singasandra as part of a special food safety drive, the Karnataka Health and Family Welfare Department said.Three Indira Canteens inspected in Bengaluru over food safety violations (Photo: ITG)Food safety officials on Tuesday inspected three Indira Canteens in Bengaluru and found violations including non-compliant labelling, misbranding and unhygienic food handling conditions, officials said. The central kitchen of the Indira Canteen at Gottigere was subsequently sealed over unhygienic food handling and storage conditions.The inspections were conducted at the main kitchens and food preparation units of the Indira Canteens at Gottigere and Singasandra in Bengaluru South and Lingarajapuram in Bengaluru North, as part of a special food safety drive, the Karnataka Health and Family Welfare Department said.Officials found several food safety violations, including non-compliant labelling, misbranding, unhygienic food handling conditions and other violations of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) requirements.Notices were issued to the food business operators of all three establishments, with the department recommending that cases be filed before the respective Adjudicating Officers for further legal action. The department said the Gottigere Indira Canteen's warehouse was sealed because of the unhygienic food handling and storage conditions found during the inspection.Samples of various food products were also collected from the establishments and sent to a designated food laboratory for analysis. These included pulses, turmeric powder, cooking oil, jaggery, salt, sugar and other prepared food items. The laboratory tests will assess the quality of the products and their compliance with prescribed food safety standards.Indira Canteens are a flagship initiative of the Congress government, launched by former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah during his previous tenure from 2013 to 2018 to provide subsidised food to the public.ZEPTO WAREHOUSE ALSO SEALEDSeparately, food safety officials inspected the warehouse of quick-commerce company Zepto in Hoskote on the outskirts of Bengaluru.The premises, operated by Nippon Express, were found to be “highly unhygienic”, according to officials. The warehouse was sealed over unhygienic food handling and storage conditions, and a notice was also issued. The action is part of the department's wider food safety enforcement drive in Bengaluru.The department warned that strict legal action would be taken against food business operators found violating food safety regulations. It said such special inspection drives would continue to ensure that the public is provided with safe, wholesome, hygienic and quality food.- EndsPublished By: Priyanka KumariPublished On: Aug 11, 2026 23:59 IST