The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the licences of 105 food business establishments, including those linked to quick-commerce companies Blinkit and Zepto, and ordered seven establishments to stop operations following food safety violations detected during a special statewide inspection drive on November 4 and 5. Announced on November 6, the action resulted in the seizure of 39,485.42 kg of food products worth approximately ₹1.35 crore from more than 70 establishments.
Inspections revealed unhygienic storage and manufacturing conditions, improper food handling, inadequate pest control and missing mandatory records. The crackdown covered food manufacturers, sweet shops, hotels, restaurants, caterers and other businesses. The FDA maintained that establishments with suspended licences cannot continue food business operations during the suspension period. The action has also brought food safety practices in the rapidly expanding quick-commerce sector under scrutiny, particularly during the festive season when consumer demand rises.
What Did The Inspections Reveal?
According to the FDA’s official statement, the 105 suspended licences were distributed across six administrative divisions. Nashik recorded the highest number, with 39 suspensions, followed by Mumbai with 28, Pune with 20 and Amravati with 15. Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar accounted for two suspensions, while Thane recorded one.
The list included Blink Commerce Pvt Ltd and Zepto Ltd in Mumbai, along with several traditional food businesses. However, the action concerns their food business licences in Maharashtra and should not be interpreted as a statewide or nationwide ban on either quick-commerce platform. The seven establishments directed to stop operations included three in Pune, two in Amravati, and one each in Mumbai and the Konkan division. Among the establishments named were Rajdhani Biryani Centre in Mumbai and Aaradhana Dryfruit Sweets in Bhiwandi, Thane district.
Inspectors identified multiple violations, including unhygienic manufacturing and storage facilities, improper food handling and packaging, inadequate pest-control arrangements, and the absence of appropriate temperature-control systems. Several establishments also failed to maintain mandatory records and certificates required under food safety regulations. The seized food products included mawa, khoa, paneer, ghee, edible oils, farsan, dry fruits and assorted sweets. Pune accounted for the largest seizure, with 14,429.7 kg of food articles valued at ₹49.36 lakh. The Konkan division recorded seizures worth ₹32.52 lakh, followed by Nashik at ₹28.35 lakh.
Additional Enforcement Action And Food Safety Concerns
The crackdown also uncovered the presence of prohibited products. The FDA seized gutkha and pan masala worth ₹7.96 lakh from three locations. Three First Information Reports (FIRs) were registered and two people were arrested in connection with these seizures. Authorities also seized two vehicles worth ₹4.70 lakh and sealed two establishments.
The action comes amid growing scrutiny of food safety practices in the quick-commerce industry, where warehouses and dark stores play an important role in storing and distributing products. Earlier enforcement actions had also targeted Blinkit and Zepto-linked facilities in Maharashtra. In August 2026, the FDA reportedly suspended 14 food business licences, including those associated with Blinkit, Zepto and other quick-commerce operators, following inspections of 86 establishments.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe reiterated the department’s commitment to protecting consumers, stating that the FDA was a protective shield against unsafe food and that there would be no compromise on food quality or public health, irrespective of a business’s size or reputation.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Food safety is not a privilege reserved for those who can afford premium products. It is a basic right that every consumer deserves, whether they purchase groceries from a neighbourhood shop, a supermarket or a quick-commerce application. The suspension of licences and seizure of unsafe food products are important steps towards protecting public health, particularly during festivals when households purchase larger quantities of sweets, dairy products and packaged food.
However, enforcement must go beyond occasional inspection drives. Regular checks, transparent reporting, meaningful penalties and accountability across the entire supply chain are essential to prevent violations from recurring. Quick-commerce companies must ensure that their warehouses, storage facilities and distribution systems meet the same safety standards expected of traditional food businesses. Consumers, too, should have access to clear information about the products they purchase and the businesses supplying them.
Festive celebrations should never come at the cost of public health. Do you think stricter inspections and accountability can make India’s quick-commerce and food retail sectors safer for consumers?
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