Hotels, dhabas, restaurants and other food service establishments in Karnataka have been asked to tighten food safety and hygiene practices, following inspections that found instances of expired food products being stored and poor hygienic conditions. In an advisory issued on Tuesday (August 11), Karnataka’s Food Safety and Drug Administration Department has asked food business operators to strictly comply with food safety requirements relating to food preparation, storage, staff hygiene, transportation, water quality, toilets, pest control and waste disposal. The department has warned that legal action would be initiated in cases involving expired food, contamination, unsafe water or other violations of food safety standards. Regular training in food safety and personal hygiene has also been made part of the requirements. No expired food in storageThe advisory specifically requires expired food products, spoiled fruits and vegetables and food showing signs of fungal growth to be removed immediately and disposed of safely.