FSSAI inspections at Andaz Delhi and JW Marriott found expired food, pest infestations and multiple hygiene and licensing lapses ahead of the September Brics Summit
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) flagged two five-star hotels in Delhi’s Aerocity for a string of violations, including expired food, cockroaches, poor segregation of vegetarian and non-vegetarian items and inadequate hygiene.
The inspections covered Andaz Delhi, operated by Juniper Hotels and JW Marriott New Delhi. The findings come just weeks before India hosts the 18th Brics Summit in New Delhi on September 12 and 13, when the capital is expected to receive foreign leaders, ministers and large diplomatic delegations.
At Andaz Delhi, inspectors found around 87 kg of expired sweets in the confectionery section. The stock was destroyed at the premises. Officials also found expired bread packets and an expired cake base in the pastry section.
The inspection also recorded pest activity and several kitchen hygiene problems. Active cockroaches were found near freezers, while houseflies, mosquitoes and spider webs were reported in other areas. The inspection further flagged poor sanitation, inadequate temperature monitoring and problems with food storage and handling.
At JW Marriott New Delhi, inspectors recorded 59 deficiencies during inspections conducted on August 24 and 25. The findings included cockroaches, fruit flies, poor storage practices, licensing and labelling problems, faulty equipment and shortcomings in employee hygiene.
More from Business87 kg of expired sweets at Andaz
The FSSAI inspection at Andaz Delhi was conducted on June 22. The discovery of nearly 87 kg of expired sweets was among the most serious findings. The sweets were reportedly found in the confectionery area and were discarded on the spot.
Officials also found two bread packets with expired stickers and an expired cake base in the pastry section. Flies and cockroaches were reported in the area, along with pest activity and an unpleasant smell in parts of the kitchen.
Vegetarian and non-vegetarian cutting boards were reportedly kept immersed together in the same water container.
In the room-dining kitchen, burners designated for vegetarian food were also reportedly being used to prepare non-vegetarian food. Such practices can increase the risk of cross-contamination in commercial kitchens.
The regulator also found gaps in supplier verification, including inadequate checks of suppliers’ FSSAI licences and weaknesses in tracking incoming food material and its shelf life.
FSSAI collected regulatory and surveillance samples of products including cow ghee, vegetable mayonnaise, coconut milk powder, yellow masoor dal, tomato sauce, orange marmalade and coconut cookies for laboratory analysis.
The inspection at JW Marriott New Delhi was carried out over August 24 and 25, with officials recording 59 deficiencies.
The findings covered several parts of the hotel, including its kitchens, bakery, storage areas and water-bottling facilities.
Inspectors reportedly found cockroaches in the Indian and bakery kitchens and fruit flies in the vegetable section. Rotten apples and tomatoes were found in storage, while some food items were reportedly kept uncovered.
The inspection also found unclean utensils, food residue on washed utensils and problems with waste disposal. Some bins were overflowing, while others lacked lids or pedals.
There were also infrastructure and equipment-related problems, including faulty refrigerators and freezers, water leakage and broken tiles.
One of the more unusual findings involved food labelling. A container holding prawns was reportedly labelled “juice”, while a container containing juice was labelled “prawn”. The inspection also flagged improper segregation and storage of food items.
Employee hygiene was another concern. Some staff were reportedly found handling food without appropriate protective gear, while one worker was engaged in cooking despite having an open wound.
Problems were also found in the water-bottling section and other parts of the property. At the K3 restaurant, inspectors reportedly observed visible particulate matter in drinking water. A rusting water-storage tank was also among the deficiencies recorded.
Samples of water and food products including honey, milk whitener, red velvet sponge, rasmalai, khoya, paneer and chutney were collected for analysis.
Licensing and labelling lapses
The FSSAI inspection at JW Marriott also found issues beyond kitchen hygiene.
Officials reportedly found that some retail and relabelling activities were not covered by the hotel’s food safety licence. Some packaged products were also found to have labelling deficiencies, including misprinted FSSAI licence numbers and incomplete manufacturer details.
Some food products, including paneer, khoya, chana masala and chilli, reportedly did not have the required licence or endorsement readily available for verification.
These findings could result in further regulatory action depending on the hotel’s corrective measures and the outcome of the samples collected during the inspection.
Why this matters before Brics
The timing of the inspections is significant.
New Delhi is preparing to host the Brics Summit on September 12 and 13, with the city stepping up security, infrastructure and civic preparations for the international gathering. Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to attend the summit, although his travel plans had not been officially confirmed.
The hotels in question are reportedly among properties being considered or used to accommodate foreign guests and delegates associated with the summit.
The action is also part of a broader food-safety enforcement drive in India, with regulators increasingly scrutinising restaurants, hotels and food businesses over hygiene, labelling, licensing and misleading claims.
The hotels’ responses to the findings were not immediately available.
