Maharashtra FDA Suspends 14 Licenses of Quick-Commerce Outlets for Hygiene Violations
Maharashtra's FDA has suspended 14 licenses linked to Blinkit, Zepto, and Instamart due to widespread food safety and hygiene violations. Inspections revealed issues like cockroach infestations, expired food, and poor storage practices across 86 establishments.
Key takeaways
- Maharashtra FDA suspended 14 licenses linked to Blinkit, Zepto, and Instamart.
- Violations included cockroach infestations, expired food, poor hygiene, and inadequate storage.
- Inspections covered 86 establishments across Maharashtra focusing on food safety standards.
- Specific issues noted were improper temperature control, lack of protective gear for handlers, and missing medical records.
- Actions were taken under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the operating licenses of 14 food business establishments connected to the quick-commerce platforms Blinkit, Zepto, and Instamart. This action follows a statewide inspection drive conducted on August 13, which identified numerous breaches of food safety and hygiene regulations.
The inspection campaign, covering 86 facilities involved in the online storage, sale, and delivery of food, resulted in 60 improvement notices and one temporary halt order. Of the suspended licenses, Blinkit accounted for five, Zepto for five, and Instamart for two. Bhagwati Stores and Swinsta Ent Pvt Ltd each had one license suspended.
Inspections scrutinized various aspects including storage conditions, temperature maintenance, cleanliness, pest control, food handler hygiene, record-keeping, and adherence to inventory management principles like First In, First Out (FIFO) and First Expired, First Out (FEFO).
What Happened
In Pune, a Zepto outlet faced license suspension after inspectors discovered food items past their expiry dates, alongside unhygienic storage, insufficient pest control, and personal hygiene lapses. A Swinsta Ent Pvt Ltd facility in the same city was cited for cockroach infestations, inadequate cold chain for frozen goods, and deficient hygiene and pest management.
Mumbai's Blinkit operations saw a facility in Malad (West) flagged for operating with chiller temperatures above regulated limits. Additionally, approximately 40 food handlers had not undergone required medical examinations, with records missing. Workers were observed not using essential protective gear. Poor organization, damaged storage racks, and improper segregation of food products were also noted.
Further inspections of Blinkit facilities in Ghatkopar revealed issues with drainage, waste disposal, temperature control, and housekeeping, leading to a classification of non-compliance. Zepto outlets in Mulund and Goregaon exhibited deficiencies in food storage, temperature management, cleanliness, and license display. An Instamart outlet in Andheri was found storing food packets directly on the floor, alongside inadequate storage space, overcrowding, and hygiene and temperature control problems.
Delivery operations were also part of the review. At a Blinkit store in Karad, 125 delivery riders were found to be operating without identity cards and medical fitness records. The outlet's FSSAI license was not displayed on delivery bags and boxes, leading the FDA to halt two-wheeler deliveries until these issues were rectified.
Background
The FDA stated that these actions were taken under the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The agency emphasized the importance of strict adherence to food safety, hygiene, and storage standards for all food businesses operating via online platforms.
Sources reviewed
Project Chintan independently synthesized and analyzed information cross-checked across the sources listed above.
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