Cockroaches, expired food: Blinkit, Zepto, Instamart face Maharashtra FDA crackdown

Maharashtra's FDA has suspended 14 licences after statewide inspections found food safety lapses at quick-commerce facilities and other establishments. The drive also triggered notices, seizures, FIRs and a warning to food businesses to meet prescribed hygiene and storage standards.

In Short

• Inspectors checked 86 online-linked establishments and issued 60 improvement notices
• Expired products, cold-chain failures and pest infestations surfaced at multiple facilities
• Blinkit, Zepto and Instamart sites scored poorly on storage and hygiene

Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration has launched a major crackdown on food businesses after a statewide inspection drive uncovered serious hygiene, storage and food safety violations at quick-commerce facilities, hotels, restaurants and other establishments.

The FDA inspected 86 establishments linked to online food delivery platforms on August 13, suspending 14 food business licences with immediate effect. Five licences were linked to Blinkit, five to Zepto, two to Instamart, while one each belonged to Bhagwati Store and Swinsta ENT Pvt Ltd.

The action came after inspectors found expired food products, poor temperature control, pest infestations, unhygienic storage, inadequate waste disposal and serious lapses in personal hygiene at several facilities.

14 LICENCES SUSPENDED AFTER STATEWIDE INSPECTIONS

Alongside the licence suspensions, the FDA issued 60 improvement notices and ordered one establishment to immediately halt business operations.

The inspections examined storage conditions, temperature control, cleanliness, pest control, hygiene of food handlers, FIFO and FEFO practices, food safety records and the display of FSSAI licences.

Officials said suspension action was taken against establishments where serious non-compliance was detected.

EXPIRED FOOD, COCKROACHES AND COLD-CHAIN FAILURES

At a Zepto facility in Pune’s Lohegaon area, inspectors found food products stored beyond their declared “Use By” dates. The facility also failed to follow FIFO and FEFO practices and had unhygienic storage, inadequate pest control and serious personal hygiene deficiencies.

The FDA said the company’s response during the hearing was unsatisfactory.

At Swinsta ENT Pvt Ltd in Warje Jakat Naka, Pune, inspectors reported cockroach infestation, inadequate cold-chain maintenance for frozen products, temperature-control problems and serious hygiene and pest-control deficiencies.

BLINKIT FACILITIES FLAGGED IN MUMBAI

A Blinkit facility in Malad West was found operating with a chiller-room temperature of 6 degrees Celsius, above the prescribed level.

The FDA also found that around 40 food handlers had not undergone medical examinations and that the required records were unavailable. Several workers were reportedly not wearing headgear, aprons or gloves.

Inspectors further flagged disorganised storage, damaged and rusted racks, inadequate segregation of vegetarian, non-vegetarian, cooked and dairy products, along with shortcomings in training and food safety supervision.

At another Blinkit facility in Ghatkopar, inspectors found inadequate drainage and waste-disposal arrangements, poor temperature control for frozen products and unprotected lighting fixtures in an unpacked-food storage area.

The establishment scored just 34 out of 74 marks, or 46 per cent, and was declared non-compliant.

ZEPTO, INSTAMART UNITS ALSO FOUND NON-COMPLIANT

At Zepto’s Mulund facility, inspectors reported inadequate waste disposal, temperature-control failures, lighting problems, poor cleanliness and inadequate separate storage facilities. The FSSAI licence was also not prominently displayed.

The facility scored 81 out of 180 marks, or 45 per cent, and was declared non-compliant.

A reinspection of Zepto’s Gola Unit in Goregaon also found deficiencies in temperature control, lighting, food storage, personal hygiene facilities and cleanliness. Despite scoring 98 out of 142 marks, or 70 per cent, the unit was still classified as non-compliant.

At an Instamart facility in Andheri, food packets were found stored directly on the floor. Inspectors reported inadequate storage space, congestion, temperature-control deficiencies and problems with lighting, cleanliness and personal hygiene.

The facility scored 76 out of 140 marks, or 55 per cent, and was declared non-compliant.

At Zepto’s Lokhandwala facility, the FDA additionally found inadequate temperature control for perishable food, no ante-room for frozen products, poor warehouse layout and improper segregation of food, non-food items and hazardous substances. The facility scored 65 out of 140 marks, or 47 per cent.

DELIVERY RIDERS ALSO UNDER FDA SCANNER

The crackdown extended beyond warehouses and stores to delivery operations.

At a Blinkit store in Karad, Satara district, officials checked 125 two-wheeler delivery riders and found that they lacked identity cards and medical fitness records.

The FDA also found that the principal food business’s FSSAI licence was not displayed on delivery carts, bags or boxes. The firm was directed to stop business activity involving two-wheeler deliveries until the deficiencies were rectified.

MILK PRODUCTS, BAKERY ITEMS SEIZED

The statewide drive also resulted in significant seizures of food products.

The FDA seized 698 kg of milk and milk products valued at around Rs 34,302. Another 1,270 kg of food items, including milk products, bakery products and edible oil, valued at approximately Rs 1,29,762, was seized.

The regulator said the total value of seized goods involving other food items and banned products stood at around Rs 46,89,603.

The drive also led to 10 FIRs over the sale, distribution and transportation of banned products such as pan masala and gutkha. Nine people were arrested and banned stock worth Rs 46,76,631 was seized.

109 HOTELS, RESTAURANTS AND DHABAS INSPECTED

The FDA also inspected 109 hotels, restaurants and dhabas as part of the wider crackdown.

Officials issued 49 improvement notices and suspended four food establishment licences. A total of 15 raids were conducted during the special drive.

BOLLYWOOD CAFE FACES ACTION OVER HYGIENE LAPSES

The FDA also conducted a special inspection at Bollywood Cafe, Studio Number 13, located in Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari, Film City, Goregaon.

Inspectors found serious shortcomings in cleanliness and food safety standards. The condition of utensils and the premises was found unsatisfactory, while a large-scale fly infestation was reported.

The kitchen was found with dirty water, accumulated dirt and food residue. Officials also found food being prepared on rusty and unhygienic food-contact surfaces.

The department directed the cafe management to immediately rectify the violations and strictly comply with prescribed food safety and hygiene standards.

The FDA said penal action was being initiated under Section 69 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

FDA WARNS FOOD BUSINESSES

The Maharashtra FDA said the action against quick-commerce establishments and other food businesses was taken under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the rules and regulations framed under it.

The regulator has warned food business operators involved in selling and delivering food through online platforms to strictly comply with prescribed standards for food safety, hygiene, storage and handling.

- Ends