The Maharashtra FDA is not taking chances anymore.
After finding major food safety issues in Blinkit and Zepto dark stores, the state’s food regulator has said inspections will continue.
In June, things got serious. A Blinkit-affiliated store in Pune was caught operating without a food safety licence. This store near Mitcon College in Balewadi was run by Energy Darkstore Services. It had no valid paperwork under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Inspectors also found food particles on the floor and staff handling food without headgear. That’s just asking for trouble.
Meanwhile, Zepto‘s dark store in Dharavi was in even worse shape. There was food with fungal growth, stagnant water near storage areas, and expired products lying around. Cold storage wasn’t even cold enough. The FDA said this was a serious violation and suspended Zepto’s licence.
Both companies were forced to stop operations in these stores. But they managed to restart after getting the required clearances and fixing the problems.
Still, the FDA is staying on their toes. “Yes, they made the changes. But we’ve told them to keep all outlets clean and safe. We’re doing regular checks to make sure they follow rules,” said Yogesh Kadam, Minister of State for Food and Civil Supplies, to Moneycontrol.
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The FDA’s message is clear: just because you deliver fast doesn’t mean you skip hygiene. Customers trust these brands to deliver safe food. One slip-up can lead to major health risks.
Blinkit didn’t give any comment. Zepto hasn’t replied yet either.
Quick commerce is booming in cities like Mumbai and Pune. But with speed comes responsibility. These dark stores are hidden from the public eye. That’s why FDA checks are so important.
Food safety isn’t optional. If you’re selling groceries, you need a valid licence. And your kitchen or store needs to be clean. It’s basic.
If Blinkit and Zepto want to win consumer trust, they must fix these things once and for all—not just after getting caught.
Because when the food comes to your door in 10 minutes, the last thing you want is stale bread and fungus with it.
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