FSSAI flags cockroaches, expired food and hygiene lapses at Delhi's JW Marriott, Andaz
Food safety regulator FSSAI has issued notices to five-star hotels JW Marriott and Andaz Delhi in the capital's Aerocity after inspections uncovered serious hygiene and food-safety violations, including cockroach infestations, expired food, poor sanitation and improper storage.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) said on Wednesday, August 26, that notices were issued to JW Marriott, operated by Aria Hotels and Consultancy Services Pvt Ltd, and Andaz Delhi, operated by Juniper Hotels Pvt Ltd, following inspections that found multiple violations.
At JW Marriott, inspectors found cockroaches and fruit flies, spoiled and fungus-affected food, unclean utensils and food-contact surfaces, improper food storage and risks of cross-contamination.
The regulator also flagged inadequate pest control and poor maintenance in several kitchen and food-preparation areas.
Apples were found with fungal growth and tomatoes were rotten, while cut vegetables and other food products were improperly stored. Inspectors also found inadequate segregation of vegetarian and non-vegetarian food, poor allergen management and non-functional exhaust systems in some kitchens.
Other deficiencies at JW Marriott included issues relating to licensing, labelling, temperature control, sanitation, traceability and potable-water management.
Certain products, including paneer, khoya, chana masala and chilli, were found without the requisite licence or endorsement for verification, FSSAI said.
The regulator also found that the hotel was carrying out retail and re-labelling activities without the required endorsement in its FSSAI licence, including selling food products under the JW Marriott brand name.
Labelling deficiencies were observed in pre-packaged food products, including misprinted FSSAI licence numbers and failure to declare the complete manufacturer's address. The FSSAI licence was also not displayed prominently on the premises.
Deficiencies were reported across the Chinese, Indian, Italian and bakery kitchens, as well as the water bottling area, dry store, coffee shop and vegetable preparation area.
The regulator said the drinking-water storage tank showed rusting, while deficiencies were also found in imported-food labelling, sanitation and pest control.
Responding to the notice, JW Marriott said it remained committed to guest safety and maintained rigorous food safety, hygiene and quality standards.
"We are committed to ensuring the wellbeing of our guests and the hotel maintains rigorous food safety, hygiene, and quality standards. The hotel is extending its full cooperation to local authorities as the matter is reviewed and will take any necessary action based on the findings," it said.
At Andaz Delhi, inspectors found active cockroaches near freezers, houseflies, mosquitoes in a grinding room and spider webs. A packet of gutka was also found inside the bottling plant area, FSSAI said.
The inspection also uncovered about 87 kg of expired sweets, along with an expired cake base and bread packets.
FSSAI said inspectors found duplicate date-marking on expired bread packaging, inadequate temperature monitoring, improper allergen segregation and poor waste management.
The regulator also flagged severe unpleasant odours and chillers located directly between two bathrooms, with exhaust venting into the chiller section.
Other deficiencies included improper segregation of vegetarian and non-vegetarian food, poor food-handler hygiene, structural and maintenance problems, and inadequate supplier verification and receiving practices.
FSSAI collected regulatory and surveillance samples from both hotels, including cow ghee, mayonnaise, coconut milk powder, honey, lentils, tomato sauce, marmalade and cookies for laboratory analysis.
Further action will be taken based on the test results, the regulator said.
FSSAI has directed both hotels to take immediate corrective measures and submit compliance reports along with supporting evidence.
Comments from Andaz Delhi were not immediately available.
The inspections are part of FSSAI's wider crackdown in recent months against food business operators and e-commerce platforms over food safety, misleading claims, labelling and advertising violations.
