Blinkit, Zepto, Instamart face Food Safety crackdown in Maharashtra; 14 licences suspended. First Published: 15th August, 2026 14:00 IST Another Blinkit facility at Shiv Shakti Heights near Patel Chowk in Ghatkopar was found with inadequate drainage,waste-disposal arrangements. * SHARE IT NOW Behind the promise of groceries arriving at the doorstep within minutes, Maharashtra food safety officials found something far less reassuring. During a state-wide inspection drive, regulators uncovered expired food, cockroach and rodent infestations, poor hygiene and improper temperature control at several facilities linked to leading quick-commerce platforms. The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the licences of 14 establishments associated with Blinkit, Zepto and Instamart following inspections carried out across the state on Thursday. In total, 86 establishments involved in the storage, sale and delivery of food through online platforms were inspected. The crackdown resulted in 60 improvement notices, while operations at one facility were also temporarily suspended. Of the 14 licences suspended, five were linked to Blinkit, five to Zepto and two to Instamart. Blinkit Facilities Under Scanner At a Blinkit facility at Bay Vue Building on Marve Road in Malvani, Mumbai, inspectors found the chiller room operating at 6 degrees Celsius, which was above the required temperature. The facility also had no medical examination records for around 40 food handlers. Several workers were reportedly not wearing headgear, aprons or gloves while handling food. Another Blinkit facility at Shiv Shakti Heights near Patel Chowk in Ghatkopar was found with inadequate drainage and waste-disposal arrangements. Inspectors also flagged poor temperature control for frozen products, unprotected lighting fixtures in an unpacked-food storage area and poor housekeeping. The facility scored just 34 out of 74, or 46 per cent, and was declared non-compliant. A cockroach infestation, damaged ceilings and flooring, and inadequate segregation of food products were also recorded. Expired Food Found at Zepto Facility The inspection of a Zepto facility in Pune's Lohegaon uncovered another major concern: food products being stored beyond their declared "Use By" dates. Inspectors found that the facility was not following FIFO and FEFO practices, which are designed to ensure that older and soon-to-expire products are moved out first. Unhygienic storage, inadequate pest control and serious deficiencies in personal hygiene were also reported. Temperature control in cold-storage areas was another major issue. The FDA later said Zepto's response during the hearing was unsatisfactory. Other Zepto-linked establishments in Mumbai were also served notices. Cockroaches, Rodent Droppings at Instamart Facilities The inspection of Instamart-linked facilities revealed some of the most alarming pest-related violations. At Swinsta ENT Pvt Ltd in Pune's Karvenagar, near Warje Jakat Naka, the FDA suspended the licence after discovering an active cockroach infestation. Officials also found failures in maintaining the cold chain for frozen products, along with temperature-control, hygiene and pest-control deficiencies. At an Instamart-associated facility on Hill Road in Bandra West, Mumbai, inspectors reportedly found heavy rodent droppings close to food packages. A lizard infestation, rusted metal racks and other hygiene failures were also identified. The facility scored 63 out of 140. At another Instamart-linked Rajidi Retail facility in Azad Nagar, Andheri West, inspectors found expired Zorabian Chicken Curry Cut stored at 8 degrees Celsius, instead of the 0-4 degrees Celsius range cited by the FDA for the product. The expired stock was discarded immediately. Meanwhile, an Instamart facility on Mahakali Caves Road in Andheri East was found with overcrowded storage, no air curtains at main entrances and food bags placed directly on the floor. Bollywood Cafe Also Raided The FDA's crackdown extended beyond quick-commerce facilities. Officials also raided Bollywood Cafe at Dadasaheb Phalke Film City in Goregaon East. Inspectors found food being prepared in unhygienic conditions, severe fly infestation and dirty drains. Food was also reportedly being prepared on rusty and unclean food-contact surfaces. The FDA initiated action against the cafe under Section 69 of the Food Safety and Standards Act. The findings have raised fresh questions over the hygiene and food-safety standards maintained behind the scenes of the rapidly expanding quick-commerce industry, where convenience often depends on food being stored, handled and delivered within minutes. Post Views: 49 Discover more Government Local News Office Furniture Follow North East Live on. 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Zepto in Bengaluru, Blinkit in Mumbai: Quick commerce platforms face regulatory heat over food safety violations. Quick commerce platforms Zepto and Blinkit were caught in the crosshairs of food safety officials for violating food safety regulations. Karnataka Food Safety and Drug Administration raided a Zepto warehouse in Bengaluru on Tuesday and sealed it due to "unhygienic" conditions in food handling and storage. In Mumbai, meanwhile, the licence of a Blinkit facility in Malad (West) has been suspended after Maharashtra Food Safety and Drug Administration officials found serious food safety and hygiene violations. Zepto warehouse sealed in Bengaluru: Food safety & drug administration officials inspected one of Zepto's warehouses, which is being run in partnership with Nippon Express, in Hoskote, on the outskirts of Bengaluru. The checks covered "quality, safety, storage, labelling and food handling practices," in accordance with the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, along with the rules made thereunder. An inspection of the facility found multiple statutory violations, including unhygienic food conditions, improper labelling, misbranding, and breaches of food-handling and storage practices. In accordance with FSSAI regulations, the authorities immediately sealed the facility. They also issued a notice to the Zepto warehouse and recommended that a case be filed before the concerned Adjudicating Officer for further legal action. "Strict legal action will be taken against food business operators found violating food safety regulations. The Food Safety and Drug Administration Department will continue to undertake such special inspection drives to ensure that the public is provided with safe, wholesome, hygienic and quality food," the authority said. Zepto's statement on govt action: A Zepto spokesperson told MediaNama that the company had cooperated with the inspection and was acting on the observations and suggestions made by officials. "Routine food safety inspections are conducted by authorities across the country as part of their regular oversight. We have fully cooperated with the authorities during the inspection, taken note of the observations and suggestions shared, and are taking the necessary steps to address them. We remain committed to continuously strengthening our processes and maintaining high standards of food safety and hygiene," the spokesperson said. Why this matters: This is not Zepto's first brush with authorities over food safety violations. In its IPO prospectus, the quick commerce platform disclosed that food safety officers in Maharashtra filed adjudication applications against Zepto establishments under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Separately, a local authority in Tamil Nadu flagged one establishment for operating without a trade licence. The latest regulatory action against Zepto comes days after the company was forced to shelve its highly anticipated initial public offering (IPO) over valuation concerns. 'Cockroach infestation' at Blinkit facility in Mumbai: The Maharashtra Food Safety and Drug Administration (FDA) suspended the food licence of a Blinkit facility in Mumbai's Malad West, citing serious food-safety and hygiene violations, according to PTI. During an inspection conducted on August 7, officials found "extremely unhygienic" conditions, improperly stored food, inadequate cleanliness in the cold storage and expired, damaged or tampered packaged goods. The facility was also found to be violating First-In, First-Out (FIFO) and First-Expired, First-Out (FEFO) inventory-management practices. These practices are intended to ensure that older products or those nearing expiry are sold or removed first. The FDA also flagged inadequate pest and rodent control measures, poor waste management and maintenance at the facility. Cockroaches were found in the fruit and vegetable storage area, posing a risk of food contamination. In the wake of these violations, the facility's licence has been cancelled until further notice, and it has been barred from selling or distributing food products or conducting any other food business during the suspension period. MediaNama has reached out to Blinkit for a statement. The story will be updated if and when Harro receive a response. Earlier in June, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) sent Blinkit two notices over consumer complaints about spoiled food. The FSSAI said it had been receiving multiple complaints through social media and direct representations about unhygienic, spoiled, and damaged food delivered by sellers through the platform. Concerns around liability for spoiled food remain.

Zepto warehouse sealed in Bengaluru over unhygienic food storage conditions. Karnataka's food safety department sealed a Zepto warehouse in Hoskote after finding misbranding, non-compliant labelling and unhygienic food storage and handling conditions. The action against the Zepto warehouse comes amid a wider food safety enforcement drive across Bengaluru. (Photo: Reuters) The Karnataka Food Safety and Drug Administration Department on Tuesday sealed a Zepto warehouse in Hoskote taluk of Bengaluru Rural district after a surprise inspection found multiple violations of food safety norms, including misbranding of food products and unhygienic storage and handling conditions. What did the inspection find? The inspection was aimed at checking the quality, safety, storage, labelling and handling of food products in accordance with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Rules, 2011. Officials found several lapses, including non-compliant labelling and misbranding of food products, unhygienic food handling and storage conditions, and other violations of FSSAI requirements. Food packets were found lying around the warehouse, while cans of soft drinks and milk products were stored haphazardly, with garbage strewn across the floor. Citing the unhygienic conditions observed at the facility, the department sealed the warehouse with immediate effect under applicable provisions of the food safety law. A notice was also issued to the Zepto warehouse management. The department has recommended filing a case before the concerned Adjudicating Officer for further legal action. A penalty of ₹25,000 was also imposed on Zepto for failing to maintain cleanliness at the location. "The Food Safety and Drug Administration Department will take strict legal action against food business operators found violating food safety regulations," the Commissioner said in the release. In response to the inspection, a Zepto spokesperson said: "Routine food safety inspections are conducted by authorities across the country as part of their regular oversight. We fully cooperated with the authorities during the inspection, took note of the observations and suggestions shared, and are taking the necessary steps to address them. We remain committed to continuously strengthening our processes and maintaining high standards of food safety and hygiene." The Karnataka Food Safety and Drug Administration Department also began inspecting a Zomato warehouse in Bengaluru. According to a Moneycontrol report, the officials are currently inspecting Zomato's Hyperpure facility on Bannerghatta Road. The department is yet to issue a statement on the findings of the inspection. A wider food safety drive underway in Bengaluru. The action against the Zepto warehouse comes amid a wider food safety enforcement drive across Bengaluru. The FDA has recently inspected hotels, restaurants, pubs and facilities involved in food storage and supply. The FDA's enforcement drive led to the sealing of an Indira Canteen central kitchen at Gottigere after officials found unhygienic food handling and storage conditions. Separate inspections were conducted at three Indira Canteen food preparation units in Gottigere, Lingarajapuram and Singasandra. Officials reported issues including non-compliant labelling, misbranding and hygiene-related violations. Nearly 60 three-star and five-star hotels in Bengaluru Urban district were inspected during the latest operation, with 77 food samples collected and sent to designated food laboratories for analysis. The department said strict legal action would be taken against food business operators found violating food safety regulations. It also said such special inspection drives would continue to ensure that the public receives safe, wholesome, hygienic and quality food.