The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has dealt a serious blow to the delivery service company Blinkit. At one of Blinkit's stores located in Malad West, the FDA discovered severe food safety violations, resulting in the suspension of the store's operating permit.
Authorities conducted a surprise inspection of the Blinkit store on August 7th. During the inspection, a large amount of dirt was observed, and numerous cockroaches were seen among the fruit and vegetable stock. Inspectors were shocked to find that some food products were stored directly on the floor.
Furthermore, rusty shelves were found in the store, the condition of the cold storage area was extremely unsatisfactory, and the pest control system was deemed inadequate.
According to the inspection report, some food items in the store had expired. Many packages were found to be spoiled or opened. Additionally, FIFO/FEFO rules necessary for proper food storage were not being followed.
Moreover, the level of waste management and employee personal hygiene was very low. Medical examinations and medical records of employees handling food were incomplete. Employees were not provided with PPE kits and gloves.
The FDA suspended the license of Blink Commerce Private Limited based on section 32(3) of the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006. Following this order, all food operations at the store were completely halted.
These actions are part of a special campaign conducted by the Maharashtra FDA from August 6th to 9th, which covered the entire state. During this campaign, many enterprises involved in the production, storage, and sale of food were inspected. The FDA appealed to the public, urging them to immediately report any breaches of food safety regulations, as the health and quality of the population cannot be compromised.
