Mysuru: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) launched a special drive to inspect the quality of food served at Paying Guest (PG) accommodations in the city yesterday.

This inspection comes in response to growing concerns over the food quality provided to college students and office workers, many of whom rely on PGs due to the difficulty and expense of cooking for themselves or renting separate accommodations.

PG accommodations are popular for offering combined food and lodging services at a relatively affordable cost. The city hosts several hundred PG facilities, accommodating thousands of residents.

However, recent complaints have highlighted substandard food quality in many PGs across the State, including cases of food poisoning in Bengaluru’s PG facilities.

To address these concerns, Commissioner of Food Safety and Standards Department K. Srinivas directed the launch of a special inspection drive.

A dedicated three-member team from the Food Safety Department has been assigned to conduct these inspections. The team’s evaluation will cover multiple parameters, including the quality of ingredients used, with food samples collected and sent for laboratory analysis.

Additionally, the team will seek feedback from PG residents to gain insights into their experiences.

The inspection report is expected to be submitted to the Food Safety Commissioner within a month. Should any violations or discrepancies be identified, the Department is prepared to implement corrective measures outlined in its guidelines.

Daily inspections of Indira Canteens

FSSAI officials are also conducting daily inspections of Indira Canteens to assess food quality and  hygiene standards.

The team has already visited several canteens, collecting food samples for laboratory testing and sending daily reports to the central office in Bengaluru. Inspections of additional canteens are ongoing, with the final  report pending.

Golgappa deemed safe

The FSSAI has also investigated the quality of golgappa sold by chaat vendors. Concerns had been raised following complaints that additives like harpic and urea were being used to enhance taste, along with sub-standard edible oil.

The Department’s report confirmed that the golgappa sold by vendors, many of whom hail from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and other States, is of acceptable quality, with no harmful additives detected.