3 weeks ago
Maharashtra FDA Suspends Blinkit Food Licence Over Cockroach Infestation
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, is a group of grown-ups in India who make sure the food we eat is safe.
They visited a Blinkit storage place in Mumbai that packs food for quick deliveries to people's homes.
They found lots of cockroaches in the room where fruits and vegetables were kept.
They also found old, expired food, opened packages, and food kept on rusty shelves and dirty floors.
The FDA said the place was too dirty and unsafe, so Blinkit is not allowed to sell or deliver food from there until it is fixed.
The FDA also visited a Reliance Retail store after people complained about a sweet called kaju katli.
People said the sweets had fungus and live worms in them.
The FDA took away 54 boxes of the sweets and sent a sample to a laboratory for testing.
When the lab results come back, the FDA will decide what happens next.
The Maharashtra FDA suspended Blink Commerce Private Limited's food licence No. 11524010000119 for its Malad (West), Mumbai dark store after an August 7 inspection found a heavy cockroach infestation and serious hygiene lapses.
Inspectors found expired, damaged and tampered packaged food, items stored on rusted racks and directly on the floor, inadequately cleaned cold storage, and non-compliance with FIFO/FEFO stock-rotation practices.
The FDA also flagged inadequate pest and rodent control, poor waste management and maintenance, and missing medical and health records and personal hygiene/protective equipment for food handlers.
Separately, the FDA seized 54 boxes (11.34 kg) of 'Laxmi Narayan' brand kaju katli from a Reliance Retail outlet at ARD Cinemall, Buldhana, after an August 8, 2026 consumer complaint of fungus and live worms; a sample was sent to a food laboratory.
The suspension is effective until further orders, though reports cite a July 27, 2026 start date that conflicts with the August 7 inspection; Eternal, Blinkit's parent company, had no immediate comment.
- Who
- The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) took action against Blink Commerce Private Limited, which operates Blinkit, and also inspected a Reliance Retail outlet.
- What
- The FDA suspended Blinkit's food licence over a cockroach infestation and food safety violations, and seized 54 boxes of 'Laxmi Narayan' kaju katli suspected of contamination from a Reliance Retail outlet.
- Where
- Blinkit's facility at Sarvodaya Bhuvan, Ramchandra Lane, Malad (West), Mumbai, and a Reliance Retail outlet at ARD Cinemall, Buldhana district, Maharashtra.
- When
- The Blinkit facility was inspected on August 7, 2026; the kaju katli complaint was received on August 8, 2026; the suspension is reported from July 27, 2026 until further orders, a date that conflicts with the inspection.
- Why
- Serious food safety violations, including a cockroach infestation, expired and tampered food, hygiene lapses, and consumer complaints of fungus and live worms in sweets.
Key facts
- Regulatory body
- Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Brihanmumbai division
- Action taken
- Food licence No. 11524010000119 suspended under Section 32(3) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011
- Blinkit facility
- Sarvodaya Bhuvan, Ramchandra Lane, Malad (West), Mumbai
- Inspection date
- August 7, 2026
- Key findings at Blinkit
- Cockroach infestation in fruit/vegetable storage, expired and tampered food, rusted racks and floor storage, FIFO/FEFO non-compliance, pest control and hygiene lapses
- Sweets seized
- 54 boxes (11.34 kg) of 'Laxmi Narayan' brand kaju katli
- Reliance Retail outlet
- ARD Cinemall, Buldhana district; complaint received August 8, 2026
- Suspension note
- Effective until further orders; reports cite a July 27, 2026 start date that conflicts with the August 7 inspection date
Quotes
Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
State food safety regulator
“On 8 August 2026, a complaint was received from consumers regarding fungus growth and the presence of live worms in Laxmi Narayan brand kaju katli. Pursuant to the complaint, an immediate inspection was conducted...”
NDTV
Sources
Blinkit warehouse licence suspended in Mumbai over expired food, cockroach infestation
In Mumbai, Cockroach Infestation At Blinkit Unit, Sweets Seized From Reliance Retail
Maharashtra FDA Suspends Blink Commerce Food Licence Over Cockroach Infestation, Hygiene Lapses In Malad
FDA suspends Blinkit Malad store’s food licence over cockroaches, hygiene lapses
Blinkit dark store in Malad loses food licence
Blinkit’s Mumbai Facility Licence Suspended
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