The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has intensified its regulatory oversight, suspending the operational licences of major retail and e-commerce warehouses in the Pune district. This action follows the discovery of critical food safety violations at facilities operated by Reliance Retail and a unit linked to Blinkit. These inspections, conducted in mid-October, form part of a broader state-wide campaign aimed at identifying the diversion of expired or damaged food products back into the market.
During an inspection of the Reliance Retail warehouse in Chakan, Khed taluka, officials reported significant hygiene failures. The FDA statement noted evidence of rodent infestations across the facility and the presence of cockroaches within floor crevices. Inspectors also observed that expired and spoiled products were stored alongside fresh stock without proper segregation. Furthermore, officials noted that employees were observed spitting inside the premises, indicating a severe lapse in health and safety protocols.
Beyond immediate cleanliness concerns, the FDA highlighted a lack of documentation regarding waste management. Although Reliance Retail provided an agreement with a waste disposal agency, the company failed to submit verifiable evidence confirming the actual destruction or disposal of expired food items. Consequently, the designated officer for Pune’s Circle 5 suspended the warehouse licence on October 15. A First Information Report (FIR) has been registered at the North Mahaluge MIDC police station to pursue the matter legally.
Simultaneously, the FDA targeted a warehouse in Nighoje, Khed taluka, operated by M/s Linkit Commerce Pvt Ltd, which is linked to the delivery platform Blinkit. Inspections revealed that the facility failed to maintain the required cold chain, with cold-room temperatures exceeding 5 degrees Celsius. Records necessary to verify the temperature-controlled environment were found to be unavailable at the time of the inspection.
Other issues identified at the Blinkit-linked site included the improper storage of raw and non-raw food items together. Inspectors found items such as salt and semolina stored directly on the floor. The facility also displayed signs of cockroach infestation, and several food packets were observed to be leaking. Additionally, the FDA noted that out of approximately 600 employees working at the site, only five possessed the mandatory Food Safety Training and Certification (FoSTaC). Like the Reliance facility, the company could not produce proof regarding the disposal quantities or methods for expired goods, leading to a licence suspension on October 15 and an FIR at the South Mahaluge MIDC police station.
This enforcement action is part of a larger, ongoing investigation by the state FDA. On October 17, the agency targeted several warehouses across Pune and Thane districts, suspecting that damaged or rejected products meant for destruction were being diverted back into the consumer supply chain. This wider operation has resulted in the suspension of five warehouse licences and the seizure of approximately 8,392 kilograms of stock, valued at an estimated Rs 48.08 lakh.
The affected facilities in the larger crackdown included those associated with Reliance Consumer Products and Zomato Hyperpure, located in Bhiwandi and Ambernath, respectively. In addition to these suspensions, authorities have ordered two unlicensed establishments to cease operations entirely. The state FDA continues to investigate these lapses to ensure that food business operators adhere strictly to safety and hygiene standards. These developments serve as a reminder of the regulatory expectations for large-scale storage facilities regarding the maintenance of food safety, proper waste documentation, and staff training compliance.
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