The inspection was carried out by Food Safety Officer Shri Ram Bodke, under the supervision of Minister of State for FDA, Shri Yogesh Kadam, and Joint Commissioner (Food), Shri Mangesh Mane.
The FDA’s press release outlined several critical violations, including:
- Presence of fungal growth on various food items
- Food items stored adjacent to stagnant and blocked water
- Cold storage temperatures not maintained in accordance with established standards
- Unsanitary conditions, such as damp and dirty floors, along with food products placed directly on the ground
- Expired food products not adequately separated from valid inventory
These infractions were cited as violations of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, as well as the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011. An immediate suspension order was executed under Section 32(3) of the Act and Regulation 2.1.8(4), with the endorsement of Smt. Anupamaa Balasaheb Patil, Assistant Commissioner (Food).
In a statement provided to CNBC-TV18, the FDA remarked, “We had been intending to inspect these warehouses for some time, but prior to that, we received two tip-offs: one from the office of MoS Food and Drug Administration Yogesh Kadam, and another from local MNS party workers. Our inspection was conducted based on these alerts. The conditions we found were so alarming that we had to suspend the license immediately. The raid took place yesterday.”
The licence will remain suspended until the facility adheres fully to food safety regulations and obtains clearance from the licensing authority.
Speaking to CNBC-TV18, Minister of State for Food and Drug Administration Yogesh Kadam emphasized that the intent is not to target Zepto but to ensure all regulations are followed.
He mentioned that he has instructed food safety officers to conduct a comprehensive survey of stores operated by all players, including Blinkit, Instamart, and others.
Additionally, he directed officers to send notices to all quick commerce companies to guarantee hygiene and adherence to food safety standards.
Regarding Zepto’s licence suspension, he stated: “Zepto will need to ensure compliance at the Dharavi store and apply for revocation of the suspension. The Maharashtra FDA will then inspect the store and decide.”
In response to a query from CNBC-TV18, Zepto stated, “At Zepto, we consider maintaining the highest standards of food safety and hygiene to be non-negotiable. We have already begun an internal review and are collaborating closely with the relevant authorities to ensure full and swift compliance. We are committed to addressing the identified lapses and enhancing our processes to provide the best and safest quality of products to our consumers. We are taking every necessary corrective measure to resume operations in line with regulatory obligations and applicable laws at the earliest.”
Also read: FSSAI warns food businesses against using ‘misleading 100%’ claims on labels and promotions
