Mumbai, Maharashtra — The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Friday suspended the licences of 14 online food-delivery and e-grocery outlets after a state-wide inspection drive uncovered serious food-safety and hygiene violations, officials said.
Inspections cover 86 outlets; 60 issued improvement notices
The FDA conducted inspections on August 13 covering 86 establishments that sell food through online platforms. Following the drive, improvement notices were issued to 60 outlets, one establishment was ordered to cease business immediately and licences of 14 outlets were suspended, the agency reported.
The suspended licences include units operated under the banners of major e-grocery platforms: five Blinkit outlets, five Zepto outlets and two Instamart outlets. One suspended licence each was of Bhagwati Stores and Swinsta ENT Pvt Ltd, which also operates an Instamart outlet, the FDA said.
Findings: pests, expired stock and cold-chain lapses
Inspectors documented an array of violations across the inspected premises in Mumbai, Pune and other parts of the state. Reported deficiencies included:
- Rodent droppings and cockroach infestations
- Expired food items in storage
- Poor segregation of food and non-food items, including chemicals and hazardous substances
- Food stored directly on the floor and rusted storage racks
- Failure to follow FIFO/FEFO stock rotation norms
- Cold-chain failures leading to suspension in Pune and other locations
"Rodent droppings and cockroach infestations"
At Zepto’s Andheri West warehouse, FDA officials observed improper segregation of food and non-food items and inadequate separation of chemicals and hazardous substances from edible goods. Several Mumbai outlets were found to have food placed directly on the floor and rusted racks, the agency reported.
Specific outlet inspections
Inspectors flagged instances of severe non-compliance at named units:
- A Blink Commerce outlet in Ghatkopar scored 34 out of 74 on the inspection checklist. Officials cited an open toilet door, rotten vegetables, cockroach infestation and failure to display its FSSAI licence.
- At a Rajidi Retail Private Limited (operating as Instamart) unit in Bandra West, large quantities of rodent droppings were found near packaged food. FDA noted a lizard infestation at the same outlet.
- In Pune, a Zepto outlet at Lohegaon and a Swinsta ENT unit at Warje Jakat Naka were suspended due to cold-chain failures and cockroach infestations.
- In Karad, Satara district, FDA found 125 delivery riders at a Blinkit store without identity cards or medical fitness records; the agency halted the store’s two-wheeler delivery operations until deficiencies were rectified.
Regulatory action and next steps
The FDA said licences were suspended where violations posed an immediate risk to public health. Establishments issued improvement notices have been asked to rectify deficiencies within stipulated timelines, and follow-up inspections will determine compliance before licences are restored.
| Action | Number of establishments |
|---|---|
| Inspected | 86 |
| Improvement notices | 60 |
| Licence suspensions | 14 |
| Immediate business halt | 1 |
The FDA spokesperson said the drive focused on online and app-based outlets because of their growing consumer base. Authorities have not publicly shared the full list of suspended units beyond the brands and key locations cited in the inspection report.
Consumer impact and safety advice
Consumers who have recently received orders from the affected outlets may consider checking expiry dates and condition of perishable goods, the FDA advised. Food-safety experts typically recommend retaining packaging and order details and contacting the vendor for redressal if contaminated or spoiled items are delivered.
The action underscores the regulatory challenge of policing a fast-expanding online grocery ecosystem where centralised warehouses and dark stores serve large urban populations. Maharashtra’s move is likely to prompt similar scrutiny in other states as regulators adapt inspection protocols for digital-first retailers.
Further details on penalties, corrective timelines and the full list of affected units are awaited from the Maharashtra FDA. The agency said follow-up inspections would be carried out to verify corrective measures before any licences are reinstated.
Sameer Joshi is the Maharashtra correspondent based in Mumbai.
