Maharashtra FDA Suspends Blinkit, Zepto, Instamart Licences Over Severe Hygiene And Pest Violations
Maharashtra FDA has intensified inspections of quick-commerce dark stores, including Blinkit, Zepto and Instamart, over food safety violations. The crackdown found issues including expired products, poor hygiene and pest infestations, leading to licence suspensions and renewed scrutiny of quick-commerce food safety practices.
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration has initiated a major enforcement crackdown on quick-commerce platforms, suspending the operational licences of 14 establishments. The state-wide inspection drive targeted prominent delivery networks including Blinkit, Zepto, and Instamart after routine checks uncovered severe hygiene breaches, pest infestations, and expired stock across multiple dark stores.
Maharashtra FDA Inspects Quick-Commerce Outlets
The regulatory sweep covered 86 distinct storage and distribution facilities operating across the state. As per a report by ANI, authorities ordered one facility to completely halt operations, issued 60 formal improvement notices, and suspended 14 commercial licences due to non-compliance with safety standards. Bengaluru: FDA Seizes 132 kg Rotten Food From High-End UB City, Brigade Road Eateries; Skyee Lounge Kitchen Shut (Video).
Hygiene Lapses Across Blinkit and Zepto Stores
As per a report by NDTV, inspectors flagged severe shortcomings at several Blinkit and Zepto facilities, including improper cold-storage temperatures, missing health records for food handlers, and expired merchandise. At a Blinkit dark store in Mumbai, officials reported cockroach activity and inadequate waste management systems. Similarly, a Zepto warehouse in Pune faced licence suspension after inspectors discovered products stored past their declared use-by dates alongside neglected pest control protocols. Domino’s Pizza Licences Suspended by Maharashtra FDA at 4 Outlets Over Hygiene Violations, 3 in Mumbai.
Instamart Dark Stores Penalised for Pest Infestations
Inspections at facilities linked to Instamart revealed widespread infrastructure and hygiene failures, ranging from rodent droppings near food packages to active lizard infestations. Regulators noted that several locations failed to maintain appropriate temperature thresholds for perishable goods such as dairy and poultry, prompting immediate administrative penalties and the seizure of compromised items.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 14, 2026 09:55 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).