The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued notices to two five-star hotels in Delhi’s Aerocity, Andaz Delhi and JW Marriott after inspections found serious food safety, hygiene, storage and licensing violations. The action comes weeks before India hosts the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12 and 13, with the hotels listed among accommodation venues for delegates and foreign guests.
At Andaz Delhi, officials found around 87 kg of expired sweets, an expired cake base, expired bread, cockroaches, flies and poor segregation of vegetarian and non-vegetarian food. At JW Marriott, inspectors recorded 59 deficiencies, including pest activity, rotten produce, poor storage, unclean utensils and licensing and labelling irregularities. FSSAI said regulatory and surveillance samples were collected and further action will depend on compliance and laboratory results. Both hotels said they are committed to food safety and are cooperating with authorities.
What The Inspections Found
The findings at Andaz Delhi, operated by Juniper Hotels Pvt Ltd, included approximately 87 kg of expired sweets in the confectionery section, which were discarded on the spot. Officials also found expired bread packets and a cake base, along with active cockroaches near freezers, houseflies, mosquitoes and spider webs. The inspection flagged inadequate segregation between vegetarian and non-vegetarian food, including cutting boards for both categories being kept in the same water container.
At JW Marriott, operated by Aria Hotels and Consultancy Services Pvt Ltd, the inspection recorded 59 deficiencies. These included cockroaches and fruit flies, fungal-affected apples, rotten tomatoes, uncovered food, dirty food-contact surfaces, malfunctioning refrigeration and visible particulate matter in drinking water. Officials also found some packaged products with incorrect or incomplete labelling and retail activity that was not covered by the required food licence.
Hotels Respond, Summit Context
The inspections come as Delhi prepares to host a major international gathering. India will host the 18th BRICS Summit on September 12 and 13, while the BRICS Business Forum will take place around the summit and brings together business representatives from member countries. Andaz Delhi said its guests’ “health, safety and well-being” remain its highest priority, adding that following an FSSAI inspection conducted on June 22, it had reviewed the observations, strengthened food safety and hygiene practices and submitted a compliance response.
JW Marriott said it maintains “rigorous food safety, hygiene and quality standards” and is fully cooperating with local authorities while the matter is reviewed. A Delhi government official said food safety inspections and sample collection are conducted throughout the year, with enforcement drives intensified during festivals and special occasions when the risk of food adulteration can increase.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
A five-star rating should never become a substitute for basic standards of cleanliness, safe food handling and accountability. Whether a meal is served in a luxury hotel, a neighbourhood restaurant or a roadside stall, consumers deserve the same fundamental protection from expired food, contamination and unsafe practices. The timing of these findings, just weeks before an international summit, also underlines why food safety enforcement must be consistent rather than event-driven.
At the same time, regulatory action should focus not only on naming lapses but on ensuring that corrective measures are completed, verified and sustained. Hospitality is ultimately about caring for people, and that responsibility begins long before food reaches the dining table. What do you think hotels and food regulators should do to ensure that food safety standards are followed consistently, not just before high-profile events? Stronger inspections, transparent reporting, regular staff training and meaningful penalties can help build public trust and prevent avoidable risks.
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