New Delhi: A fortnight before India hosts the BRICS summit in New Delhi, the Foods Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) has flagged two five star hotels in Aerocity for a string of violations including expired ingredients, presence of pests, poor hygiene, no segregation of vegetarian and non-vegetarian food, etc.
Both five star hotels were selected to house delegates and foreign guests visiting India for the BRICS 2026 summit.
The inspection was carried out Wednesday in Andaz Delhi run by Juniper Hotels, and JW Marriot.
At Andaz Delhi, the FSSAI found improper segregation of vegetarian and non-vegetarian food, pests, poor sanitation, inadequate food handler hygiene and improper food storage practices. “Expired food products, including approximately 87 kg of expired sweets, an expired cake base and expired bread packets were found. The expired sweets were discarded on the spot,” an FSSAI officer said.
Inspection of the hotel revealed “active cockroaches near freezers, houseflies, mosquitoes in the grinding room, spider webs, and a gutka packet inside the bottling plant area”, the officer added.
Officials also found expired stock, duplicate date-marking applied over expired bread packaging, alongside severe unpleasant odours and chillers situated directly between two bathrooms with exhaust venting into the chiller section.
At JW Marriott Hotel in Delhi, the FSSAI found food products, including paneer, khoya, chana masala without the requisite licence available for verification.
“Spoiled and fungally affected food, improper food storage and cross-contamination risks were observed. These included fungal growth on apples, rotten tomatoes, uncovered food, damaged storage containers, inadequate vegetarian and non-vegetarian segregation, improperly stored cut vegetables, and food products not maintained as per prescribed storage conditions,” said the official.
Further, the inspecting body also found “Retail and Relabeller activities (selling products made by third party as own)” without the requisite endorsement in its FSSAl licence, including retailing food products under the JW Marriott brand name.
The FSSAI has collected food samples and handed out notices to both the hotels and will be taking necessary actions under Food Safety and Standards Act 2006.
“We are committed to ensuring the well-being of our guests and the hotel maintains rigorous food safety, hygiene, and quality standards. The hotel is extending its full cooperation to the local authorities as the matter is reviewed and will take any necessary action based on the findings,” a spokesperson from JW Marriott told ThePrint.
Meanwhile a spokesperson from Andaz Delhi said that they did not have any information regarding the inspection.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)
Five star?? You’re joking!
Our businesses, especially hospitality, have no conscience. The pay poorly, hygiene is terrible but charge high.
So many people wonder why India does not get as many foreign tourists as it should. Could this be one of the reasons. 2. People pay Rs 75,000 for a tasting menu at some of these fancy hotels. Surely they deserve a better deal.