Maharashtra FDA suspends five warehouse licences, FIR filed over expired food stock

What the FDA says it did

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said it seized 8,392 kg of stock valued at Rs 48,08,924 during coordinated inspections in Thane and Pune districts on October 14 and 15, according to a PTI report carried by Mathrubhumi. Seven teams inspected warehouses, disposal centers and retail outlets in Bhiwandi, Ambernath and Khed taluka, acting on intelligence gathered between September 23 and October 5. Business Today gives the total as Rs 48,09,924 and says its account rests on preliminary findings cited by FDA sources.

The five licences

The FDA suspended the licences of five warehouses, per the PTI report:

• Reliance Consumer Products, Wadpe, Bhiwandi
• Reliance Retail, Wadpe, Bhiwandi
• Zomato Hyperpure, Usatane, Ambernath, which the report says stores and distributes for Blinkit
• Reliance Retail, Chakan, Pune district
• Blinkit Commerce, Nighoje, Pune district

Business Today says the suspensions followed hearings on October 15. The Free Press Journal reports that FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe led the action and describes the Chakan licence as cancelled on October 15, whereas PTI describes it as suspended. The PTI report also says unlicensed establishments, including a discount store in Bhiwandi and a disposal business, were ordered to stop operating; Business Today counts four such premises and the Free Press Journal two.

What inspectors reported

As reported from the FDA's statement, at the Zomato Hyperpure site 5,431 expired, damaged or rejected products weighing 1,590 kg, valued at Rs 7.80 lakh, were found, along with cockroach and rodent infestations and food stored on the same rack as Ayurvedic medicines. At the Blinkit site, the cold room was above 5 degrees Celsius, packets were leaking, and only five of about 600 employees held food safety training certification. At Reliance Retail's Chakan site, expired and damaged goods were reportedly mixed with other stock. The FDA said several operators could not provide verifiable evidence of final disposal of expired stock.

The FIR and the allegation

An FIR was registered at Shanti Nagar police station in Thane under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, Business Today reports. It names a whole-time director of Reliance Consumer Products, a whole-time director of Blinkit Commerce, a nominee of Reliance Retail and a Reliance Retail warehouse manager, along with company representatives, disposal-agency operators and suppliers. The Free Press Journal reports Rs 33.71 lakh seized in Bhiwandi and notes the allegations are subject to police investigation.

The FDA's suspicion, as reported, is that expired, damaged and rejected food meant for destruction was returned to the market through intermediaries and unlicensed sorting yards. The reports say disposal records showed discrepancies, including mismatched quantities, inconsistent sender and receiver details and missing transport records. These are allegations and suspicions; no finding has been reported.

What is not yet reported

None of the four reports read includes a statement from Reliance, Blinkit or Zomato Hyperpure. Business Today said it would update its article with their responses. No court finding has been reported.