Cockroach infestation, expired food: Blinkit licence suspended at Mumbai facility

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the food licence of Blink Commerce Pvt Ltd, the company operating quick-commerce platform Blinkit, following an inspection that found serious food safety and hygiene violations at its Malad (West) facility in Mumbai.

Food safety officers reportedly found a large cockroach infestation at the premises, along with improperly stored food items and products that had either expired or appeared to have been tampered with.

Expired and spoiled food found

During the inspection, food articles were found stored on rusted racks, raising concerns over the condition in which products were being kept, per a report by Hindustan Times.

The FDA inspection also found inadequate cleanliness in the cold storage areas. Stocks of expired or spoiled packaged food were reportedly found at the facility.

The findings prompted the state food regulator to suspend the company's food licence.

Bombay HC directs Amazon to hand over expired goods

The action against Blinkit comes amid a separate dispute between the Maharashtra FDA and Amazon Retail India over food safety at an Amazon warehouse in Bhiwandi, Thane district.

The Bombay High Court on Monday directed Amazon Retail India to hand over all expired and perished goods from the facility to the FDA for scientific disposal.

The direction came days after the court had reprimanded the Maharashtra FDA over its action against the Amazon warehouse.

A bench comprising acting chief justice Ravindra Ghuge and justice Gautam Ankhad also asked the FDA to respond to Amazon's plea challenging the suspension of its warehouse licence. The agency has been directed to file its affidavit by August 27.

Amazon to bear disposal cost

As an interim arrangement, the court directed Amazon to prepare an inventory of all expired and perished products lying at the Bhiwandi facility and hand them over to the concerned FDA officer.

The officer will then take steps for their disposal in accordance with the law.

The court also made it clear that Amazon will have to bear the cost of disposing of the expired and perished goods.

The FDA had earlier taken action against the Amazon facility over allegations that expired food products were being sent into the retail market instead of being destroyed.

The developments involving Blinkit and Amazon have put the spotlight on the storage and handling of food products at large e-commerce and quick-commerce warehouses.