Rats, Cockroaches Found In Kitchen Of Indore's 5-Star Sayaji Hotel; Food Safety Inspection Exposes Veg & Non-Veg Food Stored Together

Residents were shocked to discover rats, cockroaches, and fungus in the kitchen of the five-star Sayaji Hotel in Indore's upscale Vijay Nagar area after a recent food safety inspection. The Food Safety Department revealed that the hotel was found storing both vegetarian and non-vegetarian items, including seafood, chicken, and mutton, together in the cold storage.

Additionally, the hotel was storing packed kulfi and a frozen dessert without proper labeling, making it difficult to determine their production and expiry dates.

Food Safety official Manish Swami informed the media that the District Administration and FDA department, along with the Food Safety Department, took action against both kitchens of the Sayaji Hotel following the inspection. The inspectors found numerous labeling violations, and seized the raw material due to these irregularities. The hotel's FSSAI license was also under scrutiny, and further action could be taken if the violations persisted, potentially resulting in a license suspension if the issues were severe.

The investigation revealed additional issues, such as rat infestations, poor maintenance, and improper storage conditions within the hotel. Mouldy peanuts, rotten tomatoes, and potatoes were found, along with improperly labeled food products. The hotel also operated a bakery and prepared sweets, activities that were reportedly not included in its license. Used cooking oil was being directly discharged into the drainage system. Samples of paneer, raw non-vegetarian food, and other food items were collected for testing.