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Folks in Mumbai, if you assumed that your Blinkit order arrives from a spotless little grocery wonderland, FDA’s recent food-safety crackdown might have you think thrice. The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) suspended the food licence of the commerce facility's Blink Malad West outlet after uncovering an alarming list of hygiene and storage violations during an inspection that took place on August 7 as part of its wider-state crackdown on food safety.
What did the FDA find at Blinkit’s Malad West facility?
The FDA officials found widespread cockroach infestation at the Malad outlet, along with large numbers of insects on store fruits and vegetables. Additionally, the inspections also found expired and damaged products along with tampered packages in the cold room. They also found non-compliance with FEFO and FIFO practices – the food storage rules which stipulate that older or soon-to-expire products are sold before the newer stock. It's not a kind of storage system you would want when the groceries are delivered at lightning speed.
Personal hygiene issues and more
If you think hygiene practices and storage rules were the only issues, you haven’t seen the bigger picture yet. During the inspection at the Blinkit Malad West outlet, the FDA also flagged insufficient pest control, a poor waste management system, and lapses in food handlers’ personal hygiene. Officials found inappropriately maintained checkups and health records of its staff, and the protective equipment.
Following the inspection, the FDA suspended the food licence of Blink Commerce Private Limited under Section 32(3) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 – plus the Blinkit Malad West outlet is prohibited from carrying out food-centric business until further notice.
This crackdown also follows the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) recently putting several food and beverage brands under the radar for alleged misleading claims, addition of inadequate substances in the ingredients, and safety concerns.
If you’re someone who relies on quick commerce, here’s a tip: your midnight snack can wait a few minutes, but a cockroach shouldn’t be a part of it. It also remains to be seen whether or not surprise inspections will follow at other Blinkit dark stores in Mumbai.