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Beyond

Maharashtra FDA auspends 105 food licences, shuts seven

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended 105 food business licences, including those linked to quick-commerce platforms Blinkit and Zepto, following a statewide inspection drive ahead of Diwali. The food safety crackdown also resulted in orders to shut seven establishments and the seizure of nearly 39.5 tonnes of food products worth Rs 1.35 crore.

The inspections were conducted on November 4 and 5 across Maharashtra to check compliance with food safety regulations during the festive season, when demand for sweets, dairy products, snacks and other food items typically increases. The action followed inspections of food manufacturers, sweet shops, hotels, restaurants, caterers and establishments associated with online grocery and quick-commerce services.

According to the Maharashtra FDA, the suspended licences include those belonging to Blink Commerce Pvt Ltd and Zepto Ltd in Mumbai. The action has also affected several other food businesses operating across the state.

The FDA’s inspection drive identified multiple violations involving food hygiene, storage, handling and packaging. Officials found unhygienic manufacturing and storage conditions, inadequate pest-control arrangements, improper food handling practices and a lack of appropriate temperature-control facilities. Some establishments were also found to be operating without maintaining mandatory records and certificates required under food safety regulations.

The regulator said businesses whose licences have been suspended cannot undertake food-related operations during the suspension period. The action is aimed at ensuring that food businesses follow prescribed safety standards and do not put consumers’ health at risk.

Nashik recorded the highest number of suspended food business licences, with 39 establishments facing action. Mumbai followed with 28 suspended licences, while Pune accounted for 20. The FDA also suspended 15 licences in Amravati, two in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and one in Thane.

In Mumbai, the establishments facing action included Blinkit and Zepto outlets. The licences of Zepto’s Worli outlet and Blinkit were among those suspended. Other food businesses, including Biryani By Kilo, Tossin Pizza in Worli and Jumbo Burger, also faced regulatory action during the inspection exercise.

Apart from licence suspensions, the FDA ordered seven establishments to stop their operations over food safety violations. Three of these establishments were located in Pune, two in Amravati, while Mumbai and the Konkan division accounted for one each.

Among the establishments specifically identified was Rajdhani Biryani Centre in Borivali, Mumbai, which was directed to shut down for violations of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) regulations. Aaradhana Dryfruit Sweets in Bhiwandi, Thane district, was also ordered to stop operations.

The inspections also led to the seizure of 39,485.42 kg of food products valued at approximately Rs 1.35 crore from more than 70 establishments. The seized items included mawa, khoa, paneer, ghee, edible oils, farsan, dry fruits and different varieties of sweets.

These products are widely used in the preparation of festive foods and traditional sweets, making food safety checks particularly important during the Diwali season. The FDA’s action is intended to prevent the sale and distribution of food items that may fail to meet prescribed quality and safety standards.

Pune accounted for the largest share of the seized food stock. The division recorded seizures of 14,429.7 kg of food products valued at Rs 49.36 lakh. The Konkan division followed, with food stock worth Rs 32.52 lakh seized during the operation. Nashik recorded seizures valued at Rs 28.35 lakh.

The department also took action against the sale and storage of prohibited products. Gutkha and pan masala worth Rs 7.96 lakh were seized from three locations during the drive. These seizures resulted in the registration of three First Information Reports (FIRs) and the arrest of two people.

Officials also seized two vehicles valued at Rs 4.70 lakh and sealed two establishments in connection with the enforcement action.

Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said strict action would be taken against businesses found violating food safety requirements. He warned food operators against compromising public health for commercial gains and stressed that businesses must comply with the provisions of food safety legislation.

Mundhe also highlighted the serious legal consequences of selling unsafe food. Under the applicable provisions, businesses found responsible for selling unsafe food that results in death can face life imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs 10 lakh.

The latest crackdown highlights the growing regulatory focus on food safety across traditional retail outlets as well as the rapidly expanding quick-commerce sector. With platforms such as Blinkit and Zepto becoming increasingly popular for ordering groceries, packaged foods and daily essentials, compliance with food safety regulations has become an important concern.

The Maharashtra FDA’s inspections also underline the responsibility of food businesses to maintain proper storage facilities, hygiene standards, pest-control systems and temperature-management arrangements.

With food consumption rising during festive occasions, the department’s enforcement drive is intended to ensure that products reaching consumers meet the required safety standards. The suspension of 105 licences, closure orders against seven establishments and seizure of food stock worth Rs 1.35 crore mark a significant intervention by the state food safety regulator ahead of Diwali.

The FDA has indicated that violations affecting consumer health will invite strict action, placing food manufacturers, retailers, restaurants and quick-commerce operators under greater scrutiny.

 

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Beyond

Blinkit food licence suspended in Mumbai

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the food licence of a Blinkit facility in Malad West, Mumbai, after an inspection found serious food safety and hygiene violations, including a large cockroach infestation, expired products and improper storage conditions.

Food safety officers inspected the Blink Commerce Pvt Ltd facility at Sarvodaya Bhuvan on Ramchandra Lane, Malad West, on August 7. The inspection found conditions that the regulator considered severely unhygienic, prompting immediate action against the facility.

Among the most serious findings was a cockroach infestation in areas where fruits and vegetables were stored. Inspectors also found food products kept improperly, including items placed on the floor and stock stored on rusted racks. Such conditions can increase the risk of contamination and raise concerns about the safety of food being supplied to consumers.

The inspection also uncovered expired, damaged and tampered packaged food products. These items were reportedly being stored alongside other stock instead of being properly segregated and removed from circulation.

Proper inventory management is particularly important for quick-commerce warehouses, where thousands of products move through compact storage facilities every day. The FDA found that the facility was not adequately following the required First-In, First-Out (FIFO) and First-Expired, First-Out (FEFO) systems. These practices are designed to ensure older and soon-to-expire products are dispatched first and expired products do not remain in active inventory.

Pest control was another major concern. The facility did not meet the required standards for controlling pests and rodents, while waste management and general cleanliness were also found to be inadequate.

Officials also flagged shortcomings related to employees handling food. Required medical examination and health records for food handlers were not properly maintained. Inspectors further found gaps in personal hygiene and the use of protective equipment by workers.

The FDA has suspended the facility’s food business licence under Section 32(3) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The suspension remains effective until further orders, preventing the facility from conducting food-related business during the period of suspension.

The action comes amid a wider food safety enforcement drive by the Maharashtra FDA. The regulator has been conducting inspections of food businesses, warehouses, retailers and other establishments across the state, with particular attention to hygiene, storage, pest control and compliance with food safety regulations.

The action against Blinkit also highlights the growing scrutiny of quick-commerce companies and their dark-store networks. Platforms such as Blinkit have expanded rapidly by operating neighbourhood warehouses that allow groceries and other products to reach customers within minutes.

The convenience comes with a significant operational responsibility. Unlike conventional supermarkets, dark stores process orders at high speed and handle a large variety of products in limited spaces. Maintaining proper refrigeration, stock rotation, pest control and hygiene is therefore essential to prevent food safety problems.

For consumers, the episode raises a basic but important question about the standards maintained behind the convenience of rapid grocery delivery. Food ordered through an app must meet the same safety and quality requirements as products purchased from a physical store.

The incident is also significant because food safety problems at a storage facility can affect multiple categories of products. Fresh produce, packaged food, dairy products and other perishables require different storage conditions, and lapses in temperature control, cleanliness or stock management can affect their quality.

A weaker system of expiry monitoring can be particularly risky. Products approaching or past their expiry dates need to be identified and removed promptly. If inventory systems fail, there is a possibility that unsuitable products could remain available for sale.

The FDA‘s action sends a clear message to businesses operating food warehouses that speed of delivery cannot come at the expense of hygiene and regulatory compliance. As quick commerce becomes a larger part of India’s grocery market, regulators are increasingly focusing on the conditions inside the facilities that customers rarely see.

The development also comes after food safety authorities took action against other establishments in Maharashtra over hygiene and storage violations. The wider enforcement activity indicates that regulators are paying closer attention to how food is stored, handled and sold across both traditional and digital retail channels.

For Blinkit, the immediate priority will be to address the deficiencies identified during the inspection and meet the regulator’s requirements before the facility can resume normal food-related operations.

The incident could also increase pressure on quick-commerce platforms to strengthen internal checks across their dark-store networks. Regular pest-control inspections, automated expiry monitoring, proper stock segregation, employee hygiene checks and clean storage areas are critical to maintaining consumer confidence.

For customers, the case is a reminder that convenience should not replace basic food safety. The expectation is simple: groceries delivered within minutes should be stored, handled and supplied under conditions that protect their quality and safety.

As India’s quick-commerce sector continues to expand, maintaining those standards will become increasingly important. The Malad action shows that regulators are prepared to intervene when facilities fail to meet the required food safety norms.

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1 Minute-Read

Blinkit facility faces FDA action over hygiene

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration has suspended the food licence of a Blinkit facility in Malad West, Mumbai, after an inspection found serious hygiene violations.

Officials reported a cockroach infestation near fruits and vegetables, expired and damaged food products, improper storage and inadequate pest control. The facility also failed to properly follow FIFO and FEFO stock rotation systems.

Gaps were found in worker hygiene, medical records and protective equipment. The licence has been suspended under the Food Safety and Standards Act. The action comes amid a wider Maharashtra FDA crackdown on food safety violations.

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Corporate

Eternal profit jumps 346% in Q4 to ₹174 cr

Eternal, the parent company of Zomato and Blinkit, reported a sharp rise in profit for the January-March quarter, with net profit surging 346% year-on-year to ₹174 crore. The strong earnings were supported by rapid growth in its quick commerce arm Blinkit and steady performance in food delivery.

Revenue from operations also saw a major jump, rising 196% to ₹17,292 crore during the quarter compared with the same period last year. The results underline strong demand across Eternal’s businesses as more consumers continue to rely on app-based food, grocery and convenience services.

Blinkit remained the company’s biggest growth driver. The platform, which offers quick delivery of groceries and daily essentials, has expanded aggressively as demand for instant delivery services rises in urban markets. Analysts said Blinkit’s wider network, improving efficiency and growing order volumes played an important role in boosting the group’s overall performance.

Along with Blinkit, Eternal’s food delivery business also continued to provide stable growth. Zomato remains one of India’s largest food ordering platforms and continues to benefit from higher order frequency and a broader restaurant network.

Eternal, which recently changed its corporate identity from Zomato, now operates multiple consumer-focused businesses. These include food delivery, quick commerce, restaurant supplies through Hyperpure and lifestyle services under District. The broader portfolio is helping the company diversify beyond its original food delivery model.

The company’s shares remained in focus after the earnings announcement, with investors reacting positively to the stronger numbers. Analysts believe Blinkit’s continued growth and the mature food delivery business could support future earnings momentum.

Market experts said the latest quarter reflects a more balanced business strategy, where Eternal is focusing not only on expansion but also on profitability. This has been a key concern for investors in India’s highly competitive internet commerce sector.

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