Blinkit Suspended by Maharashtra FDA for Food Safety Violations

Blinkit’s food licence has been suspended by Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the Balewadi area of Pune due to non-compliance with regulatory requirements. This action follows increased scrutiny of dark stores amid rising concerns regarding food safety and hygiene.

Blinkit’s Licence Suspension Details

On June 5, Maharashtra FDA conducted an inspection and discovered that the Blinkit facility lacked a necessary licence from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India for the production, distribution, or sale of food products. Consequently, the food business licence was suspended until the mandatory licence under Section 31 (1) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, is secured.

Food Safety Violations at Blinkit

Despite operating without a valid licence, the Blinkit facility, managed by M/s Energy Darkstore Services located near Mitcon College in Balewadi, was found to be storing and selling food items. The authorities documented several violations of food safety regulations, including:

• Food items discovered on the floor
• Absence of pest control audit certificate
• Workers in the food area not wearing protective caps
• Food products stored on dusty racks
• A cold storage unit lacking a calibration certificate

Similar Violations at Zepto

In a related event, the FDA also conducted an investigation at Zepto’s facility in Dharavi last week, resulting in the suspension of its food business licence for breaching food safety guidelines. Issues identified included:

• Fungal growth on food articles
• Food storage near stagnant water
• Cold storage temperature not being maintained
• Expired food items mixed with the main stock