Food Safety Under Watch: Maharashtra FDA Acts Against Blinkit Hub, Mumbai Eateries

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has intensified food-safety enforcement after surprise inspections exposed serious hygiene and compliance violations at a Blinkit quick-commerce hub in Akola and two Mumbai eateries.

The FDA is the state authority responsible for enforcing the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, along with related rules and regulations. Its food-safety teams inspect premises, examine storage and handling practices, check sanitation and water quality, verify licences and food-handler requirements, and can collect samples for testing.

The recent inspections show how enforcement can escalate when businesses fail to correct deficiencies. At Blinkit’s Akola centre, a re-inspection found that problems cited in an earlier improvement notice, including poor storage conditions and unsuitable racks, remained unresolved. Following a hearing on August 31, the FDA suspended the licence until further orders.

At Delhi Sweet and Bhelpuri House in Malad, inspectors found food stored near dirty drains, unfiltered water being used for cooking and drinking without test reports, and food products being made or repacked outside the establishment’s licence category. Unlabelled paneer and lassi without expiry dates were seized. Of 36 food handlers, 26 lacked mandatory medical certificates, while some had unbandaged burns and untrimmed nails.

Gulzar Mohammadi Hotel in Kurla West recorded an even more serious hygiene failure, scoring just 24 out of 88, or 28 per cent. Officials reported cockroach infestation, contaminated food, improper drainage and missing water-testing reports.

For businesses seeking to resume operations, corrective action must address the specific deficiencies identified by inspectors. This means thorough cleaning and sanitation, pest control, safe storage, suitable racks, compliant water testing, proper labelling, medically certified food handlers and adherence to licence conditions.

Under the food-safety framework, continued non-compliance can lead to stronger measures, including licence suspension, cancellation, seizure or prohibition of unsafe food, fines and prosecution, depending on the offence. FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe has warned that establishments compromising food quality and public health will face stringent legal action.