Empire Restaurant In Bengaluru Serves ‘Unsafe’ Chicken Kebabs, Says State Lab Report After BBMP Inspection

One of the most-loved restaurant chains in Bengaluru, Empire Restaurant, is famous for its delicious chicken kebabs. But now, it is facing serious trouble. Bengaluru’s food safety authorities have declared that the chicken kebabs sold at the Empire outlet in Gandhinagar are unsafe to eat. This has come as a shock to many fans of the restaurant, known for its late-night meals.

Chicken Kababs At Bengaluru’s Empire Found Unsafe For Human Consumption

The issue came to light after a routine inspection by a food safety officer named Ambarish Gowda. On June 27, he visited the Empire outlet near Anand Rao Circle and collected two kilograms of chicken kebabs in total, packed in four separate 500-gram packets. These samples were sent for detailed testing at the State Food Laboratory, Public Health Institute, NDTV reported.

After careful examination, the lab sent back results on July 11 that raised alarms. According to the lab report, the chicken kebabs did not meet safety standards set under the Food Product Standards & Food Additives Regulations, 2011. Simply put, the kebabs failed to pass the safety tests required for food products in India and were declared unsafe under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

Following the report, the BBMP’s Food Safety and Drug Administration (North Zone) has issued a formal notice to the Empire outlet. The restaurant has been asked to respond within 30 days. According to NDTV, they also have the option to ask for a retest of the food samples at the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) in Mysuru.

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Lab Report Sparks Health Concern

When contacted by NDTV about the situation, Shakir, the CEO of the Empire restaurant chain, said, “We have received a notice issued by FSSAI. We won’t be commenting on the details of the issue. I can confirm that we have now stopped using food colouring in our kebabs.”

Empire is one of Bengaluru’s most visited places and the news that their food was judged unsafe will surely worry a lot of customers. Following food safety regulations can also lead to a lot of issues for well-known eateries.

This regrettable event at Bengaluru’s Empire Restaurant serves as a reminder to all of us to be mindful of what we eat.

Cover Image Courtesy: Hotel Empire/Website