Maharashtra FDA Suspends 14 Quick-Commerce Licenses

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended 14 food business licenses following a special inspection drive conducted on August 13, 2026, targeting quick-commerce and online food delivery establishments across the state. This significant action also included issuing 60 improvement notices and ordering one establishment to temporarily cease operations.

The statewide initiative covered 86 facilities, encompassing prominent players such as Blinkit, Zepto, and Instamart. The suspensions reflect a heightened regulatory focus on ensuring food safety and hygiene standards within these rapidly expanding sectors.

Key Enforcement Figures

• Total facilities inspected: 86
• Food business licenses suspended: 14
• Improvement notices issued: 60
• Establishments ordered to temporarily cease operations: 1

Licenses Suspended Across Major Platforms

The suspended licenses were distributed among several key operators. Notably, Blinkit facilities accounted for five of these suspensions, with Zepto facilities also facing five suspensions. Instamart saw two of its licenses suspended.

Additionally, Bhagwati Store and Swinsta ENT Pvt. Ltd. each had one food business license suspended. These actions underscore the regulatory body’s commitment to enforcing compliance.

Hygiene and Storage Violations Detailed in Mumbai

Inspections conducted within Mumbai revealed a range of significant hygiene and storage violations across multiple facilities. These deficiencies highlight critical areas where quick-commerce operators must enhance their operational standards.

• A Blink Commerce Private Limited facility in Ghatkopar exhibited dirty storage racks, inadequate segregation of food and non-food items, rotten vegetables, and a cockroach infestation. Structural issues like damaged ceilings and flooring were also noted, alongside missing medical and drinking-water test records.
• RAJIDI Retail in Bandra West was found with excessive dust, cobwebs, food waste, and rodent droppings. The facility also had rusted racks, damaged flooring, poor segregation practices, and lacked medical records for its food handlers.
• A Zepto facility in Lokhandwala, Andheri West, faced flags for inadequate temperature control and the absence of an ante-room for frozen products. Inspectors also cited poor warehouse layout and gaps in temperature monitoring and food-safety documentation.

Further Lapses Noted Across Maharashtra

Beyond Mumbai, other facilities also demonstrated critical non-compliance with food safety regulations. These incidents further illustrate the systemic challenges within the quick-commerce supply chain.

• A RAJIDI Retail facility in Andheri West failed to adhere to FIFO/FEFO (First-In, First-Out / First-Expired, First-Out) practices and improperly stored an expired Zorabian Chicken Curry Cut product at an incorrect temperature.
• A Blink Commerce facility in Malad West had issues with chiller temperature control and missing medical examination records for food handlers, alongside general poor storage conditions.
• A Zepto facility in Lohegaon, Pune, and Swinsta ENT Private Limited in Pune both faced license suspensions due to temperature abuse, the presence of expired products, unhygienic conditions, and deficiencies in pest control.

The Maharashtra FDA’s comprehensive inspection drive signals an ongoing commitment to ensuring that quick-commerce and online food delivery platforms uphold stringent food safety and hygiene standards across their operations. This regulatory oversight aims to safeguard public health by addressing critical gaps in storage and handling practices.