Published : 26 Aug 2026, 09:14 PM
Updated : 08 Sep 2026, 09:36 AM
Two luxury hotels in New Delhi’s Aerocity, reportedly booked to host foreign guests for the BRICS Summit, have been pulled up by India’s food regulator for serious safety lapses.
Inspections by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) at Andaz Delhi by Hyatt and JW Marriott New Delhi uncovered expired food items, pest infestations, poor storage practices and hygiene violations, News 18 reports.
India is scheduled to host the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on Sept 12 and 13.
87kg of Expired Sweets at Andaz
An FSSAI team inspected Andaz Delhi on Jun 22 and found several deficiencies, including inadequate segregation of vegetarian and non-vegetarian food in the kitchen.
Vegetarian and non-vegetarian cutting boards were being kept in the same water container, while two bread packets had expired stickers.
Around 87kg of expired sweets were found in the confectionery area and destroyed on the spot. An expired cake base was also found in the pastry section, along with flies and cockroaches. Pest activity and a foul smell were reported in kitchen areas.
The inspection also flagged shortcomings in food procurement and in checking suppliers' FSSAI licences. Samples of ghee, mayonnaise, lentils, sauces and other products were collected.
JW Marriott Records 59 Deficiencies
An inspection at JW Marriott New Delhi on Aug 24 and 25 recorded 59 deficiencies.
The team found that required FSSAI licences or endorsements were unavailable for some food products and detected labelling errors on packaged items. At the hotel's K3 restaurant, a visible particle was found in water served to customers.
Cockroaches were found in the Indian and bakery kitchens, while fruit flies were detected in the vegetable section. Food residue was found on washed utensils and hair was found in a pot.
Several dustbins were overflowing, while some lacked lids or pedals. Inspectors also found malfunctioning equipment, broken tiles and water leakage in refrigerators and freezers. Rotten apples and tomatoes were found in storage.
Food was being kept in the open in some areas, while vegetarian and non-vegetarian items were not adequately segregated. In one case, a container of prawns was labelled "juice" and juice was labelled "prawn".
The inspection also found cockroaches and broken containers in the bakery. Idli-dosa batter and praline paste were not stored at the prescribed temperature.
Some employees were handling food without proper hairnets or gloves, while one worker was cooking despite having an open wound.
Open electrical wires, faulty plug-switches and corrosion in a water-storage tank were also flagged.
Water, paneer, khoya, rasmalai, red velvet sponge and other food samples were collected.
FSSAI has directed both hotels to take corrective action on the deficiencies identified.
The hotels are reportedly among those being used to accommodate foreign guests for the BRICS Summit, according to Delhi Police sources.
India's official BRICS 2026 website lists the country's chairship theme as "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability".
The summit is expected to bring leaders and senior delegations from BRICS member countries to New Delhi.
