The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the food licence of Blink Commerce Pvt Ltd. The company operates the quick-commerce platform Blinkit.
The FDA took action after food safety officers inspected the company’s Malad West facility. Officials found several serious hygiene and food-safety violations. The inspection revealed a large cockroach infestation. Officials also found poorly stored food, expired products and tampered goods.
FDA Finds Cockroaches And Poor Hygiene At Blinkit Facility
Food safety officers found a major cockroach infestation at the facility. They also found poor cleanliness in several parts of the premises. The cold storage areas did not meet required hygiene standards.
Officials found food products stored on rusted racks. They also discovered expired and spoiled packaged food among the stored goods. The findings raised serious concerns about the facility’s food handling and storage practices.
Expired And Tampered Food Products Found
The inspection uncovered several expired food items. Some packaged products had also spoiled. Officials also found tampered products at the facility. These findings added to the FDA’s concerns over food safety.
The agency has strict requirements for businesses that store and handle food. Companies must maintain proper hygiene and ensure that expired products do not enter the supply chain. The FDA suspended Blink Commerce’s food licence after the inspection identified these violations.
Bombay High Court Orders Amazon To Hand Over Expired Goods
The Blinkit action comes as the Maharashtra FDA faces a separate dispute with Amazon Retail India. The Bombay High Court on Monday directed Amazon to hand over all expired and perished goods from its Bhiwandi warehouse to the FDA.
The agency will dispose of the products through a scientific process. A bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad issued the direction. The court also asked the FDA to file its response to Amazon’s petition by August 27.
Amazon Challenges Warehouse Licence Suspension
Amazon Retail India approached the Bombay High Court after the FDA suspended its Bhiwandi warehouse licence. The facility is located in Thane district. The FDA had taken action after alleging that Amazon sent expired food products into the retail market instead of destroying them.
Amazon challenged the FDA’s decision before the high court. The court has now introduced a temporary arrangement while it considers the wider dispute.
Court Directs Amazon To Prepare Product Inventory
The court directed Amazon to prepare a complete inventory of all expired and perished products at the Bhiwandi facility. Amazon must then hand over the goods to the concerned FDA officer. The officer will dispose of the products according to the law.
The court also directed Amazon to pay the cost of the disposal process. The order ensures that expired and perished food does not remain in the warehouse or enter the retail supply chain while the court considers Amazon’s challenge.