The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued notices to Juniper Hotels Pvt Ltd, which operates Andaz Delhi at Aerocity, and JW Marriott Delhi following inspections that reportedly found several food safety, hygiene and compliance deficiencies at the hotels.
At Andaz Delhi, the inspection found expired food products, including approximately 87 kg of expired sweets, an expired cake base and expired bread packets, with the sweets discarded on the spot. Officials also observed improper segregation of vegetarian and non-vegetarian food, pest activity, inadequate food-handler hygiene, improper food storage, poor waste management and deficiencies in temperature monitoring and allergen segregation.
The inspection further recorded fungal growth on apples, rotten tomatoes, uncovered food, damaged storage containers and improperly stored cut vegetables. Deficiencies were also noted in the Chinese, Indian, Italian and Bakery kitchens, water bottling area, dry store, coffee shop and vegetable preparation area, including pest infestation, poor sanitation, non-operational exhaust systems and issues concerning food labelling and storage.
At JW Marriott Delhi, operated by Aria Hotels and Consultancy Services Pvt Ltd, FSSAI officials found the Food Business Operator undertaking retail and relabeller activities without the requisite endorsement on its FSSAI licence, besides labelling deficiencies in pre-packaged food products. Certain products, including paneer, khoya, chana masala and chilli, were reportedly found without the requisite licence or appropriate endorsement available for verification.
The inspection at JW Marriott also recorded unclean utensils and food-contact surfaces, visible particulate matter in drinking water, inadequate pest control, cockroaches and fruit flies, and poor maintenance of food premises.
FSSAI said regulatory samples were collected from both establishments for analysis. At Andaz Delhi, samples included cow ghee, veg mayonnaise, creamy coconut milk powder, honey twigs, yellow masoor dal, tomato sauce, orange marmalade and coconut cookies, while samples including drinking water, red velvet sponge, angori rasmalai, khoya, paneer and sonth chutney were collected at JW Marriott.
Both establishments have been directed to undertake corrective measures, with further regulatory action to follow under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and applicable regulations, based on compliance and sample analysis.