The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has initiated action against six entities following inspections that uncovered food safety and hygiene violations at a five-star hotel in Delhi and allegedly misleading health claims in cooking oil promotions on e-commerce platforms.
The action covers Radisson Blu at Mahipalpur, operated by AB Hotels Limited, as well as Flipkart, BigBasket, Gemini Edibles & Fats India Limited, DNV Food Products Limited and Jhanvitanni.
The regulator issued an improvement notice to AB Hotels Limited, show-cause notices to the companies involved in the cooking oil promotions, suspended the licence of DNV Food Products Limited and cancelled the licence of Jhanvitanni.
Hotel inspection reveals hygiene lapses
An inspection at the Delhi hotel identified multiple deficiencies in sanitation, pest control, food handling and storage. Officials reported cockroaches and flies in food preparation areas, fungus-affected fruits and vegetables, stagnant water, drainage problems and inadequate refrigeration.
Inspectors also flagged rusted machinery, freezer leakage and improper food-waste management. Food handlers were found working without gloves and hairnets, while some reportedly wore jewellery and had long nails.
Cooking oil used at the hotel’s NYC Kitchen recorded total polar compound (TPC) values of 31 and 24.4, indicating oil degradation.
The FSSAI has directed AB Hotels Limited to undertake corrective measures and submit an action-taken report. Failure to comply could result in further regulatory action, including suspension of its licence.
Food businesses face licensing action
The FSSAI suspended the licence of DNV Food Products Limited with immediate effect after identifying unhygienic manufacturing and storage conditions, including flies, cobwebs, inadequate sanitation facilities and rusted processing equipment.
The inspection also found deficiencies in food-handler hygiene, product storage and packaging-related documentation. The suspension applies to food business activities covered by the licence until further orders.
Jhanvitanni’s licence was cancelled after the regulator found continued food safety violations despite an earlier suspension. The corrective measures submitted by the operator were deemed unsatisfactory, and it was directed to stop all activities under the cancelled licence.
