97 Bengaluru Employees Fall Ill After Eating Idli Vada Sambar At Office Canteen

Bengaluru: In a concerning incident highlighting food safety risks in workplaces, 97 employees of a private company in Devanahalli, north Bengaluru (Bengaluru Rural District), fell ill after consuming meals at their office canteen. According to a report by Deccan Herald. The staff had idli and vada for breakfast followed by rice with sambar for lunch on Tuesday items described by employees as routine fare commonly served at the workplace.

By Tuesday evening, many began experiencing symptoms including abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhoea. Several required hospitalisation by Wednesday morning and were admitted to two private hospitals, where they received treatment with intravenous fluids. Health officials confirmed there were no casualties.

Bengaluru Rural District Health Officer Dr Krishna Reddy stated that the case is being investigated as suspected food poisoning. Samples of leftover food have been collected and sent for laboratory testing, with results still awaited. Authorities are examining food preparation, storage, and hygiene practices at the canteen. Officials noted that fermented foods like idli batter can be particularly susceptible to contamination if not handled properly, especially during summer months.

This episode has once again drawn attention to food safety issues in Bengaluru. It follows a News18 report citing a Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) study from February, which found that 26% of vegetable samples from markets and agricultural belts supplying the city contained lead levels far exceeding permissible limits. The study, prompted by National Green Tribunal directives, tested 72 samples from areas including Nelamangala, Kolar, and Chikkaballapura, as well as retail outlets like HOPCOMS and APMC markets. Some vegetables showed extremely high contamination, with brinjals up to 20 times the limit, little gourd 18 times, and flat beans nine times above safe levels.

Specialist physician Dr Kaushik Subramanian had earlier warned that heavy metal contamination in vegetables acts as a “slow poison,” posing long-term health risks, particularly to children and young adults. 

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