BENGALURU: Expired food articles were seized during inspections at 23 paying guest accommodations across Bengaluru on Friday, and notices were issued to them, officials said.The special drive covered a total of 64 PGs and was conducted as per the directions of health and family welfare minister UT Khader, they said.Teams from the Food Safety and Drug Administration department carried out the inspections in view of widespread complaints from the public about poor-quality food being served in PGs and lack of hygiene, officials said.According to the department, various food safety aspects were examined during the inspections as per the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, Food Safety and Standards Rules, 2011 and Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011, including the methods of preparation and storage of food articles.In a statement, Srinivas K, commissioner, Food Safety and Drug Administration department, said notices were issued to 23 PGs in view of deficiencies in hygiene and violations of food safety regulations.A total of 12 food samples were also collected and sent for laboratory analysis to examine the quality of food and compliance with food safety standards, he said.According to him, expired curd, Bisibele bath powder, rice flour, synthetic food colour, black pepper and misbranded mixture were found being used at some PGs.The food articles were seized as per the provisions of law.“During the inspection of Nandana Elite PG, Bommasandra, Bed bugs powder was found kept on the dining table along with food articles. Further, unused/non-food-related materials were found stored in an area where drinking water facilities were provided, along with overall unhygienic conditions. In view of these violations, the dining area was sealed,” the commissioner said.The department said all PG owners and persons involved in handling food had been instructed to strictly comply with rules relating to food safety and hygiene.It also directed that food articles be stored safely, quality raw materials be used, proper hygiene be maintained in kitchens and food preparation areas, and expired food articles not be used or distributed under any circumstances.The department warned that appropriate legal action would be initiated in case of any violation of food safety regulations as per the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and the Rules/Regulations made thereunder.Meanwhile, the department also inspected the pantry of the cabinet hall at Vidhana Soudha during the Cabinet meeting on September 3 at 11am.The inspection covered cleanliness, food storage safety, food quality and inventory management.The team checked whether the floors, shelves, corners and appliances were clean and free of dust, and ensured that sinks and drainage systems were functioning properly without water leaks.“Verified all items are clearly labelled with manufacturing and expiry dates and inspected for signs of pests, rodents, or droppings,” the department said in its statement.(With inputs from PTI)