3 weeks ago
Food Safety Lens Turns To Zomato After Zepto Warehouse Sealed
In India, food safety inspectors have a big job: making sure the food we buy is clean and safe to eat.
Recently, they visited a huge warehouse in Bengaluru used by a delivery company called Zepto.
Inside, they found trash, old wrappers, bottles, and dirty floors, and they said the place was "extremely unhygienic" – which means very dirty.
Because of this, they sealed the warehouse, meaning it was closed down, and told the owners they might face a case in court.
The very next day, the inspectors showed up at a warehouse used by another delivery company called Zomato.
There, they found chicken and spices with missing labels, food stored the wrong way, and they took 40 samples to test in a lab.
Other food companies are also being checked, including a Blinkit warehouse in Mumbai whose food license was taken away.
Some big hotels in Bengaluru were also found to have dirty conditions.
The companies like Zepto say they are helping the inspectors and fixing the problems, because everyone agrees that our food should be safe.
Karnataka food safety officials inspected Zomato's Hyperpure facility on Bannerghatta Road in Bengaluru on Wednesday, a day after sealing a Zepto warehouse.
The Zepto warehouse in Hoskote taluk, Bengaluru Rural district, was sealed after inspectors found organic trash, discarded wrappers and bottles, accrued filth and empty cardboard boxes, calling it "extremely unhygienic".
Officials flagged non-compliant labelling, misbranding and unhygienic food handling and storage at Zepto, sent a notice and recommended a case be filed against the warehouse operators.
An FDA report also flagged lapses at a Hyperpure by Zomato unit in Sakalawara, including 146 kg of chicken without the manufacturer's FSSAI licence number and mislabelling on rice, dry fruits and masala.
The department collected 40 samples from the Zomato facility, while a Blinkit facility in Mumbai had its food license suspended and unhygienic conditions were found in some Bengaluru hotels earlier this week.
- Who
- Karnataka Food Safety and Drug Administration Department officials
- What
- Inspected Zomato's Hyperpure warehouse in Bengaluru a day after sealing a Zepto warehouse over unhygienic conditions and safety violations
- Where
- Hyperpure By Zomato facility on Bannerghatta Road and a Hyperpure unit at Sakalawara in Bengaluru; the Zepto warehouse was in Hoskote taluk, Bengaluru Rural district; the Blinkit facility was in Mumbai
- When
- Wednesday, a day after Tuesday's sealing of the Zepto warehouse; a Hyperpure Sakalawara unit was reportedly visited on Tuesday and the Blinkit suspension happened on Monday
- Why
- Over alleged unhygienic conditions and FSSAI violations including non-compliant labelling, misbranding, and unhygienic food handling and storage
Food Safety Regulators
Quick-Commerce Companies
Severity of conditions at Zepto warehouse
Food Safety Regulators
Officials described the warehouse as "extremely unhygienic", sealed it with immediate effect and recommended filing a case against the operators for FSSAI violations.
Quick-Commerce Companies
Zepto says it fully cooperated during the inspection, took note of the observations and suggestions shared, and is taking necessary steps to address them.
Nature of the inspections
Food Safety Regulators
The department says it will take strict legal action against food business operators found violating food safety regulations.
Quick-Commerce Companies
Companies frame the checks as routine food safety inspections conducted by authorities across the country as part of their regular oversight.
Key facts
- Regulator
- Karnataka Food Safety and Drug Administration Department
- Sealed facility
- Zepto warehouse in Hoskote taluk, Bengaluru Rural district, sealed Tuesday
- Zepto findings
- Organic trash, discarded wrappers and bottles, accrued filth on floor, empty cardboard boxes
- Zepto violations
- Non-compliant labelling, misbranding, unhygienic food handling and storage, FSSAI violations
- Zomato Sakalawara findings
- 146 kg chicken without manufacturer's FSSAI licence number; mislabelled rice, dry fruits and masala; improperly stored radish pickle
- Samples collected
- 40 samples (five legal, 35 survey) from the Zomato facility
- Related action
- Blinkit facility in Mumbai had its food license suspended Monday by Maharashtra FDA
- Zepto response
- Cooperating with authorities and taking necessary steps to address observations
Quotes
Commissioner of Karnataka Food Safety and Drug Administration
Official authority issuing notice on food safety violations
“The Food Safety and Drug Administration Department will take strict legal action against food business operators found violating food safety regulations.”
livemint.com
Zepto spokesperson
Company representative of Zepto
“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.”
NDTV
Sources
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