The Maharashtra FDA has suspended the food licence of a Blinkit facility in Mumbai’s Malad West after finding an extensive cockroach infestation and other food safety violations
The action puts the spotlight on food safety compliance at Blinkit as the quick commerce platform rapidly expands its dark store network
Inspectors also flagged improper storage, expired and damaged products, inadequate pest control and gaps in the health records of food handlers
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the food licence of a Blinkit facility in Mumbai’s Malad West after an inspection uncovered an extensive cockroach infestation and several food-safety violations.
The inspection, conducted on August 7, found “extremely unhygienic” conditions, improper food storage, inadequate cleaning of the cold-storage area and expired, damaged or tampered packaged food products, according to the FDA, as reported by PTI.
The action was part of the Maharashtra FDA’s statewide enforcement drive aimed at ensuring compliance with food-safety standards.
Officials found that the facility was not following the first-in, first-out (FIFO) and first-expired, first-out (FEFO) inventory-management practices. These processes are intended to ensure that older products and those nearing expiry are sold or removed first.
The inspection also flagged inadequate pest and rodent-control measures, poor waste management and maintenance, and the absence of medical examination and health records for food handlers.
The FDA further found inadequate personal-hygiene practices and a lack of protective equipment for workers at the facility.
Cockroaches were found in the fruit and vegetable storage areas, posing a risk of food contamination. Expired, damaged and tampered packages were also allegedly found in the cold room.
The FDA suspended the facility’s food licence with immediate effect until further orders.
The facility has been barred from selling or distributing food products or conducting any other food business during the suspension period.
Inc42 has reached out to Blinkit for a comment on the development. The story will be updated upon receiving a response.
The latest incident comes nearly a year after the Maharashtra FDA reportedly revoked the food business licence of a Blinkit dark store in Pune’s Balewadi.
Quick commerce rival Zepto also faced regulatory action in June 2025, when the Maharashtra FDA suspended the food business licence of its warehouse in Mumbai’s Dharavi.
Notably, quick commerce players, including Blinkit, Zepto, Swiggy Instamart, Flipkart Minutes, and Amazon Now, are rapidly expanding their dark store networks amid intense competition.
Blinkit added 200 net new stores in Q1 FY27, taking its network to 2,443 dark stores across the country.
Source: Inc42 - Startups
