Dirty Towels, Food From The Floor? Old Video On 5-Star Hotel Hygiene Resurfaces

An old Instagram video about claimed hygiene lapses at Indian five-star hotels has resurfaced at a time when food-safety authorities are stepping up inspections of luxury hotels in Bengaluru. The video was posted by a social media creator, Arpita, back in June 2026, who claimed to have witnessed several unhygienic practices while working with five-star hotels. Read on to know more.

Old Video Resurfaces Amid FDA Crackdown At Bengaluru Hotels

The discussion around the video has gained fresh relevance following a recent crackdown by Karnataka’s Food Safety and Drug Administration (FDA), which inspected 60 three-star and five-star hotels in Bengaluru. During the three-day drive, officials reportedly seized 1,089 kg of food and other products over alleged food-safety violations, including expired food items.

In the now viral video, Arpita stated that the premium appearance of a hotel does not necessarily reflect what happens behind the scenes. She did not identify the properties involved, explaining that she had worked with them and therefore could not name them. One of the incidents she described involved a used bath towel allegedly being used to wipe a toilet seat before being sent to the laundry. She also claimed that dishes that came out of a dishwasher with food residue were allegedly wiped clean and kept aside rather than being washed again.

The most disturbing allegation involved food preparation. Arpita claimed that boiled potatoes accidentally dropped on a kitchen floor were picked up, returned to the tray and later used to make mashed potatoes for a buffet.

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Former Hotel Workers Also Share Their Experiences

Arpita’s claims also provoked responses from people who said they had worked in hotels or hotel kitchens. One commenter named Tushar claimed that similar housekeeping practices had been witnessed in the industry. Another person named Sakshi Kamble said they had worked in a large global hotel chain and alleged that rats had been found in the kitchen and that mouldy berries, recycled buffet cakes and poor food-handling practices had been observed.

Another commenter responded humorously that towels and food are carried personally when staying at hotels, adding that perhaps even a room would have to be brought along next time.

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While these comments are also individual accounts and cannot be treated as evidence of industry-wide practices, they add to the conversation sparked by the video.

What are your thoughts about this?

Cover Image Courtesy: Instagram/arpitata_byebye