NEW DELHI: Food safety inspections at two major hotels in Delhi’s Aerocity have uncovered a range of hygiene and food-safety lapses, including cockroaches, flies, foul smell, expired food and poor segregation of vegetarian and non-vegetarian items, sources said.During inspections at one of the hotels, officials found deficiencies in the segregation of vegetarian and non-vegetarian food in the kitchen.Complaints and observations regarding cockroaches, flies and foul smell were also recorded, sources said.“Deficiencies were found in the segregation of vegetarian and non-vegetarian food in the kitchen. Complaints regarding cockroaches, flies and foul smell were recorded,” said sources.“Some bread packets bearing expired stickers were also found. Around 87 kg of expired sweets were found in the confectionery area and were destroyed on the spot. In the pastry section, expired cake bases, flies and cockroaches were found,” they added.At another hotel in Aerocity, inspectors found several other deficiencies during an inspection that continued for around two days.“The inspection continued for around two days, during which 59 deficiencies were recorded,” said sources.According to sources, some food products did not have the required FSSAI licences or endorsements.Irregularities were also detected in the labelling of packaged food products.Inspectors also found mouldy apples and rotten tomatoes, while several food items were being stored in the open.Deficiencies were noted in the storage of vegetarian and non-vegetarian food as well, ANI reported.Cockroaches and broken containers were also found in the bakery section, sources said.The inspections are part of a wider food-safety enforcement drive being carried out across various states.In a separate case earlier this month, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in Maharashtra suspended the FSSAI licence of a prominent establishment at Kranti Chowk in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar with immediate effect.The action followed a surprise inspection conducted under the “Safe Food Safe Maharashtra” campaign, during which officials detected serious hygiene violations and public health concerns.Inspectors found chopped paneer with a foul smell stored in the kitchen for cooking without any validity or use-by date.Spoiled paneer poses a serious risk of rapid microbial growth because of its high moisture and protein content, officials said.(With agency inputs)