Food safety: Hotel owners propose test labs at meeting with Khader

Health Minister U.T. Khader urged Karnataka's hotel and restaurant owners to bolster hygiene and food safety standards, emphasizing that public health should not be sacrificed for business profits. During a meeting with industry association leaders, including the Karnataka State Hotel Association, Bangalore Hotels Association, Food Caterers Association, and South India Hotels Association, Khader evaluated shortcomings identified in recent food safety checks.

"The government is committed to addressing the hotel industry's concerns and offering guidance, yet food safety remains an absolute necessity," he affirmed.

Khader recommended hotels and restaurants maintain scientifically engineered storage areas and ensure food labels include details like manufacturing and expiry dates. The industry bodies suggested installing CCTV systems in kitchens to enhance transparency and consumer assurance. In response, the associations requested the government to inspect raw material suppliers, claiming hotels should not be penalized when subpar ingredients are provided. Khader concurred with this proposal.

G.K. Shetty, honorary president of the Karnataka State Hotel Association, stated the associations proposed establishing a food testing laboratory in partnership with the State government, with the infrastructure and testing facilities fully funded by the associations. Khader agreed to the plan and pledged to guide the associations on meeting FSSAI standards. The lab would analyze hotel-prepared food and issue certification documents.

The industry associations also sought permission for a hotel industry representative to accompany food safety officials during inspections, without prior knowledge of the establishments to be inspected. While the Minister confirmed the system could not be withdrawn, he assured the associations that the department would address concerns about false complaints or blackmail.

The department will also consider the association's proposal to enable customers to rate hygiene and food quality via the QR system as "good," "average," or "poor." The associations emphasized the responsibility of civic and government agencies to maintain roads, footpaths, and drainage near hotels.