FSSAI Flags Food Safety Lapses at Delhi Hotels Tied to BRICS Summit

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued notices to two five-star hotels in New Delhi's Aerocity — Andaz Delhi and JW Marriott — following inspections that revealed serious food safety violations. The action comes as both properties are listed as stay or host venues for the upcoming BRICS Business Forum, scheduled alongside the 18th BRICS Summit in the capital on September 12 and 13.

At Andaz Delhi, operated by Juniper Hotels, inspectors seized approximately 87 kg of expired sweets from the confectionery area and destroyed them on the spot. The inspection also uncovered bread packets with expired stickers, expired cake bases, and the presence of flies and cockroaches in the pastry section. Deficiencies were noted in the segregation of vegetarian and non-vegetarian food, with cutting boards for both categories found stored in the same water container.

At JW Marriott Aerocity, run by Aria Hotels and Consultancy Services, the regulator found the hotel conducting retail operations under the JW Marriott brand without the necessary licence. Pre-packaged items, including paneer, khoya, and chana masala, lacked mandatory manufacturer addresses or displayed misprinted licence numbers. The primary FSSAI licence was also not prominently displayed on the premises.

Inspectors documented active infestations of cockroaches and fruit flies, dirty food-contact surfaces, and unwashed kitchen utensils. Drinking water supplies contained visible particulate matter, indicating inadequate pest control and poor maintenance of food preparation areas. Spoiled ingredients, including fungal-affected apples and rotten tomatoes, were also found. Food was routinely left uncovered or stored in damaged containers, and staff failed to properly segregate vegetarian and non-vegetarian products, mismanaged storage temperatures, and neglected required food identification labels, creating substantial cross-contamination risks.

Regulatory and surveillance samples were collected during the inspections, and further action will follow based on the hotels' compliance and sample analysis, the FSSAI said. The regulator did not specify the dates of the inspections.

In response, Andaz Delhi issued a statement saying it had fully cooperated with the FSSAI inspection. "We take these matters with the utmost seriousness and have acted promptly to address the observations raised. Rigorous food safety and hygiene practices are central to how we operate, and we continue to review and strengthen them across every part of our operations," the statement read.