2 weeks ago
Maharashtra food safety chief suspends Blinkit, Swiggy, Zepto warehouse permits
A man named Tukaram Mundhe is in charge of making sure food in Maharashtra, India, is safe to eat.
He and his team checked big grocery delivery companies like Blinkit, Swiggy and Zepto.
These companies are called "quick commerce" because they bring food to your door in just a few minutes.
The inspectors found some very dirty warehouses where food was stored.
They saw cockroaches, rat droppings, and rotten vegetables.
Because of this, the government temporarily closed 12 of their warehouses.
They also gave warnings to many other shops and restaurants.
Some people were happy because they think this cleaning-up is long overdue.
The companies that got in trouble have not said much about it.
Mundhe says he will not accept anyone risking public health.
Maharashtra's Food and Drug Administration suspended permits for 12 warehouses run by Blinkit, Zepto and Swiggy's Instamart.
Inspectors found cockroach infestations, rodent droppings, rotten vegetables and dirty storage racks at the facilities.
The agency inspected 86 establishments and issued 60 improvement notices in the crackdown.
Food safety chief Tukaram Mundhe's department also shut four Domino's outlets this week for poor hygiene.
The raids put scrutiny on the $13 billion quick commerce sector, which processes about 9 million daily orders.
- Who
- Tukaram Mundhe, Maharashtra's food safety chief, and the state's Food and Drug Administration.
- What
- Suspended permits of 12 warehouses of Blinkit, Zepto and Swiggy's Instamart over unhygienic conditions, including cockroach infestations and rodent droppings.
- Where
- Maharashtra state, India, including sites in Mumbai and a Zepto warehouse in Nashik.
- When
- The state FDA released a statement on Friday, and the crackdown escalated this week.
- Why
- Inspectors found severe hygiene violations, including cockroach infestations, rotten vegetables and cross-contamination risks, that threaten public health.
Key facts
- Lead agency
- Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration
- Warehouses suspended
- 12 (5 Blinkit, 5 Zepto, 2 Swiggy Instamart)
- Establishments inspected
- 86
- Improvement notices issued
- 60
- Quick commerce sector value
- $13 billion
- Daily orders in sector
- About 9 million
- Delivery outlets
- Blinkit 2,200; Swiggy and Zepto about 1,100 each
- Other action this week
- Four Domino's outlets shut
Quotes
Tukaram Mundhe
Maharashtra food safety chief
“We will not tolerate any playing with public health.”
telegraphindia.com
Nolan Lucano D'souza
Consumer/social media user
“About damn time. A city wide crackdown in all quick e-commerce warehouses is needed.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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