'It's A Public Health Issue': Cardiologist Flags Food Safety Risks After JW Marriott Cockroach Incident

A dinner at a luxury hotel in Mumbai turned into a food safety concern for cardiologist Dr Ashok Seth after he spotted a baby cockroach crawling on his table at the JW Marriott's Romano restaurant. Dr Seth, Chairman, Cardiac Sciences, Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, New Delhi, had been at the hotel for a medical programme involving around 300 doctors and was dining with colleagues and foreign experts when the incident occurred.

He subsequently posted about the experience on social media, humorously referring to the insect as "Roachie" and tagging Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and JW Marriott.

Speaking to NDTV in an exclusive interview, Dr Seth said his concern was not simply about his own meal but about the broader issue of food hygiene and public safety. The incident, he said, was particularly concerning because a cockroach had reportedly also been noticed in the buffet area shortly before he spotted one on his table.