Key facts
- Maharashtra state's food safety chief Tukaram Mundhe is leading a crackdown on food and grocery companies.
- Permits for 12 warehouses of Eternal (Blinkit), Swiggy (Instamart), and Zepto have been suspended.
- Inspections revealed cockroach infestations, rodent droppings, and unhygienic storage conditions.
- The crackdown is part of a broader effort to enforce food safety standards in India.
- Four Domino's outlets were previously shut down due to hygiene issues.
Maharashtra state's food safety chief, Tukaram Mundhe, has initiated a significant crackdown on food and grocery companies, leading to the suspension of permits for 12 warehouses operated by Indian quick commerce giants Eternal (Blinkit), Swiggy (Instamart), and Zepto. The action was prompted by findings of cockroach infestations, rodent droppings, and other unhygienic conditions during recent inspections.
Mundhe, who has been actively enforcing food safety standards, previously ordered the closure of four Domino's outlets in India due to similar hygiene concerns. The state's FDA reported inspecting 86 establishments, issuing 60 improvement notices, and specifically suspending permits for five Blinkit warehouses, five Zepto warehouses, and two Swiggy Instamart warehouses.
Visual evidence shared by the FDA included photos of rusted, dirty storage racks with visible cockroaches and instances of delivery staff entering storage areas in street footwear, raising concerns about cross-contamination. Mundhe emphasized a zero-tolerance policy towards any compromise of public health, warning of further stringent actions against businesses found to be in violation of food safety and storage regulations.