India's food safety system is facing intense scrutiny as recent inspections uncover expired food, poor hygiene, pest infestations, spoiled products and labeling violations across restaurants, hotels, dairy manufacturers and quick-commerce warehouses.

Authorities in Karnataka reportedly found expired meat, mushrooms and other perishable items at hotels in Mysuru and Mangaluru, while a KFC outlet in Mangaluru was sealed following a complaint involving spoiled chicken. Uttar Pradesh has also moved against products being sold as dairy items without meeting prescribed food safety standards.

In Maharashtra, food safety authorities suspended permits at 12 warehouses operated by major grocery and quick-commerce companies after inspections reportedly found cockroach infestations and other unhygienic conditions. Meanwhile, a CAG audit highlighted questions over penalties that were not levied by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) in cases involving mandatory returns.

India's Food Safety Crisis: Expired Food, Pests & Hygiene Violations Exposed | Watch 

The US has recalled 10-million pounds of meat and poultry products this week due to fears of listeria contamination. The ready-to-eat packs of chicken suspected to have been contaminated by listeria monocytogenes bacteria were made by the food company BrucePac, according to reports.&nbsp;

The issue was found during routine checks by the US agriculture department's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) on BrucePac's&nbsp;products, multiple media outlets reported.

The ready-to-eat packs were made between June 19 and October 8 this year and&nbsp;had been sent to restaurants and other establishments across the nation.

Watch: Bacterial infection causing sudden deaths: Here's what you should know | Gravitas

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Authorities fear that these products may have reached some consumers.

The recalled items bear establishment numbers “51205 or P-51205” near the USDA inspection mark. The food safety authorities advised restaurants and other establishments not to use or serve these products.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-cdc-advises-people-to-avoid-eating-deli-meat-as-it-probes-listeria-outbreak-742782">Also read: US CDC advises people to avoid eating deli meat as it probes Listeria outbreak</a>

They should be discarded or returned to the point of purchase, they said.&nbsp;

<h2>What is Listeria?</h2>

Listeria monocytogenes is a bacteria that can cause the serious infection known as listeriosis. In rare cases, listeriosis can lead to sudden death.

It can affect people of all ages, particularly pregnant women, newborns, old people and those with weak immunity.

The bacteria is often present in contaminated food, particularly off-the-counter and ready-to-eat meats and sweets.

Listeria can be found in unpasterused milk and dairy products as well as some fish and seafood products.

It can sustain itself in low temperatures, even inside refrigerators and freezers, making it difficult to trace or eradicate.

Also, what makes it difficult to detect is that the contaminated food might appear and smell normal.

Listerioisis can lead to serious health issues. It is known to cause menigitis, miscarriages, premature deliveray and stillbirth.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/cadbury-chocolates-being-recalled-in-uk-over-fears-they-might-cause-rare-but-dangerous-disease-588217">Also read: Cadbury recalls products in UK over fears they might cause ‘rare but dangerous’ disease</a>

Preventive methods against listeria inlcude heating or cooking food thoroughly, and avoiding contaminated or risky food items, particularly pre-cooked or ready-to-eat ones.

It may take up to 70 days for the symptoms to show. Symptoms include vomiting, nausea, fever, msucle pain, head ache, and stiff neck.

If you suspect that you've consumed listeria-infected food, immediately seek medical attention. &nbsp;

Treatment varies depending on severity of infection. Mild infection can be treated with rest and fluid intake. Severe cases might require antibiotic treatment and hospitalisation.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

The US has recalled 10-million pounds of meat and poultry products this week due to fears of listeria contamination. The ready-to-eat packs of chicken suspected to have been contaminated by listeria monocytogenes bacteria were made by the food company BrucePac, according to reports.

The US has recalled 10-million pounds of meat and poultry products this week due to fears of listeria contamination. The ready-to-eat packs of chicken suspected to have been contaminated by listeria monocytogenes bacteria were made by the food company BrucePac, according to reports. The issue was found during routine checks by the US agriculture department's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) on BrucePac's products, multiple media outlets reported. The ready-to-eat packs were made between June 19 and October 8 this year and had been sent to restaurants and other establishments across the nation. Watch: Bacterial infection causing sudden deaths: Here's what you should know | Gravitas × Authorities fear that these products may have reached some consumers. The recalled items bear establishment numbers “51205 or P-51205” near the USDA inspection mark. The food safety authorities advised restaurants and other establishments not to use or serve these products. Also read: US CDC advises people to avoid eating deli meat as it probes Listeria outbreak They should be discarded or returned to the point of purchase, they said. What is Listeria? Listeria monocytogenes is a bacteria that can cause the serious infection known as listeriosis. In rare cases, listeriosis can lead to sudden death. It can affect people of all ages, particularly pregnant women, newborns, old people and those with weak immunity. The bacteria is often present in contaminated food, particularly off-the-counter and ready-to-eat meats and sweets. Listeria can be found in unpasterused milk and dairy products as well as some fish and seafood products. It can sustain itself in low temperatures, even inside refrigerators and freezers, making it difficult to trace or eradicate. Also, what makes it difficult to detect is that the contaminated food might appear and smell normal. Listerioisis can lead to serious health issues. It is known to cause menigitis, miscarriages, premature deliveray and stillbirth. Also read: Cadbury recalls products in UK over fears they might cause ‘rare but dangerous’ disease Preventive methods against listeria inlcude heating or cooking food thoroughly, and avoiding contaminated or risky food items, particularly pre-cooked or ready-to-eat ones. It may take up to 70 days for the symptoms to show. Symptoms include vomiting, nausea, fever, msucle pain, head ache, and stiff neck. If you suspect that you've consumed listeria-infected food, immediately seek medical attention. Treatment varies depending on severity of infection. Mild infection can be treated with rest and fluid intake. Severe cases might require antibiotic treatment and hospitalisation. (With inputs from agencies)

What is listeria? 10mn pounds of meat, poultry recalled in US over fears of outbreak. What you should know

In yet another alarming food incident, a resident of Jamnagar in India's Gujarat state found a fried frog inside a packet of wafers. Jasmin Patel, a resident of Pushkardham Society, said his nine-year-old niece bought the packet of Balaji Wafers from a nearby shop at 8 pm on Tuesday (Jun 18). After opening it and eating several pieces from the packet, they were left shocked upon finding a fried frog inside it.

They discarded the packet and went to the shop owner immediately to raise a complaint. After receiving an unsatisfactory response, he called up the customer care executive of Balaji Wafers. According to Patel, "A lady&nbsp;picked up the phone and she told me that I am free to take any action I want."

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwjVxf-kv-mGAxW9sFYBHYryAGkQxfQBKAB6BAgHEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-noida-woman-finds-centipede-in-ice-cream-ordered-online-what-could-have-happened-next-732114" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-noida-woman-finds-centipede-in-ice-cream-ordered-online-what-could-have-happened-next-732114&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjVxf-kv-mGAxW9sFYBHYryAGkQxfQBKAB6BAgHEAE">India: Noida woman finds centipede in ice cream ordered online. What could have happened next?</a>

Patel subsequently informed the Jamnagar Municipal Corporation Food Branch and reported the food incident. The&nbsp;food branch officials later visited Patel's house and collected a sample from the packet. After confirming the presence of a frog inside the packet, they opened a probe and took samples from other packets of the same batch. An investigation is underway to determine how the contamination occurred.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwi_q8ifv-mGAxW4sVYBHV3NDWwQxfQBKAB6BAgVEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-food-war-why-goa-towns-are-banning-indo-chinese-gobi-manchurian-687523" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-food-war-why-goa-towns-are-banning-indo-chinese-gobi-manchurian-687523&amp;ved=2ahUKEwi_q8ifv-mGAxW4sVYBHV3NDWwQxfQBKAB6BAgVEAE">Food war: Why are Goa towns banning Indo-Chinese ‘gobi’ manchurian?</a>

"We got a complaint on phone by a customer Jasmin Patel, who bought Balaji's simple crunchy salted wafer and found a dead frog. We have come to the shop from where he purchased this wafer packet and seeing the packet, it looks like it was a frog inside the packet. We are taking samples of wafers of the same batch number from the distribution agency for laboratory test," D B Parmar, a food safety officer of JMC, was quoted as saying by the Times of India.

Balaji Wafers, meanwhile, has reiterated its commitment towards food hygiene and said it will fully cooperate with the authorities as the investigation continues.

Jay Sachdev, the marketing manager of Balaji Wafers, said it was "not possible" for someone to find a frog inside the packet.

"We maintain complete hygiene while producing the snacks in our factory and it's not possible to find frogs inside our snack packet. We allow visitation of our plants to the students every week. If JMC starts an investigation we will fully cooperate," he said.

(With inputs from agencies)

In yet another alarming food incident, a resident of Jamnagar in India's Gujarat state found a fried frog inside a packet of wafers. Jasmin Patel, a resident of Pushkardham Society, said his nine-year-old niece bought the packet of Balaji Wafers from a nearby shop at 8 pm on Tuesday (Jun 18).

In yet another alarming food incident, a resident of Jamnagar in India's Gujarat state found a fried frog inside a packet of wafers. Jasmin Patel, a resident of Pushkardham Society, said his nine-year-old niece bought the packet of Balaji Wafers from a nearby shop at 8 pm on Tuesday (Jun 18). After opening it and eating several pieces from the packet, they were left shocked upon finding a fried frog inside it. They discarded the packet and went to the shop owner immediately to raise a complaint. After receiving an unsatisfactory response, he called up the customer care executive of Balaji Wafers. According to Patel, "A lady picked up the phone and she told me that I am free to take any action I want." Also read: India: Noida woman finds centipede in ice cream ordered online. What could have happened next? Patel subsequently informed the Jamnagar Municipal Corporation Food Branch and reported the food incident. The food branch officials later visited Patel's house and collected a sample from the packet. After confirming the presence of a frog inside the packet, they opened a probe and took samples from other packets of the same batch. An investigation is underway to determine how the contamination occurred. Also read: Food war: Why are Goa towns banning Indo-Chinese ‘gobi’ manchurian? "We got a complaint on phone by a customer Jasmin Patel, who bought Balaji's simple crunchy salted wafer and found a dead frog. We have come to the shop from where he purchased this wafer packet and seeing the packet, it looks like it was a frog inside the packet. We are taking samples of wafers of the same batch number from the distribution agency for laboratory test," D B Parmar, a food safety officer of JMC, was quoted as saying by the Times of India. Balaji Wafers, meanwhile, has reiterated its commitment towards food hygiene and said it will fully cooperate with the authorities as the investigation continues. Jay Sachdev, the marketing manager of Balaji Wafers, said it was "not possible" for someone to find a frog inside the packet. "We maintain complete hygiene while producing the snacks in our factory and it's not possible to find frogs inside our snack packet. We allow visitation of our plants to the students every week. If JMC starts an investigation we will fully cooperate," he said. (With inputs from agencies)

Gujarat resident left shocked after finding fried frog inside packet of wafers, probe launched