Cockroaches, rats and expired chicken found as FDA cracks down on Mumbai quick-commerce outlets

The FDA suspended licences and issued notices to Mumbai quick-commerce food outlets after inspections found expired food and other hygiene violations.

Cockroaches crawling through food storage areas, expired chicken lying in refrigerators, rotten vegetables, rodent droppings and food packets kept directly on dirty floors- these were among the hygiene lapses uncovered by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) during a special inspection drive targeting quick-commerce food delivery outlets across Mumbai.

A food safety enforcement drive was conducted across quick-commerce food delivery outlets in Mumbai. (Representative image)

The FDA on Friday suspended the licences of 10 food delivery chains, including Blinkit, Zepto and Instamart. The action followed inspections of 86 outlets on Thursday. Of these, 60 were served improvement notices, 14 had their licences suspended, while one outlet was ordered to stop business operations immediately.

FDA suspends licences after inspections of outlets

At an Instamart facility on the first floor of Gitaneel Arcade on Hill Road, Bandra, FDA officials found cockroaches moving through the storage area, along with rodent and pest droppings near food packets. Dust, cobwebs and food waste were also found across the warehouse. The facility lacked adequate pest-proofing and had ant infestation, rusted racks, chipped flooring and poor housekeeping. Food and non-food items were not properly segregated, while medical records of around 25 food handlers were unavailable and discrepancies were found in training records.

At Instamart’s Andheri East outlet, inspectors found inadequate pest protection, food packets stored directly on the floor, overcrowded storage areas and deficiencies in temperature control, lighting and personal hygiene. The Jogeshwari East unit of Bhagwati Stores Pvt Ltd had lapses in lighting, warehouse maintenance, cleanliness, pest control, water facilities and food-transport containers.

Blinkit, Zepto outlets also flagged for hygiene lapses

A Blinkit outlet in Ghatkopar, operated by Blink Commerce Private Limited, was found with unclean storage racks, inadequate segregation of food and non-food items, rotten vegetables, cockroach infestation and damaged flooring and ceiling. Medical examination, drinking-water testing and other food-safety records were also inadequate. At its Malad West facility, officials found lapses in temperature control, protective clothing and segregation of vegetarian, non-vegetarian, cooked and dairy products. With its licence suspended, the outlet cannot handle, sell or distribute food until the suspension is revoked after compliance is demonstrated.

Zepto outlets were also found flouting norms. Its Lokhandwala, Andheri West facility had shortcomings in frozen-food handling, cold-storage monitoring, segregation and food-handler protective equipment. At Mulund, inspectors found poor waste disposal, temperature-control and sanitation facilities and failure to prominently display the FSSAI licence. A follow-up inspection at Goregaon East found continuing violations related to temperature control, lighting, personal hygiene and sanitation.

Expired beverages seized from Parle Agro godown

The FDA also suspended the licence of M/s Parle Agro after finding expired stocks of Frooti, Appy and Apple Fizz at its Chembur godown. Stocks worth ₹99,970 were seized from the Velocity Express Warehouse near Chembur Naka.

At Bollywood Cafe in Film City, Goregaon East, the FDA found dirty cooking utensils, significant fly infestation, wastewater and food residue in the kitchen, and food being prepared on corroded and unclean food-contact surfaces. A penalty was issued against the establishment.

The action forms part of a wider statewide campaign against restaurants, hotels, dhabas, bakeries, online food platforms and other food businesses. As of August 13, the FDA had inspected 109 hotels, restaurants and dhabas, issued 49 improvement notices and suspended four food-business licences. It also seized around 1,270 kg of dairy products valued at approximately ₹1.29 lakh, besides prohibited food products in separate enforcement operations.