The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has taken cognisance of recent incidents involving violations of safety and hygiene norms at dark stores operated by quick commerce companies. Sources said that surveillance and inspections of such stores have already been stepped up in some cities.

Earlier this month, the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration suspended the licence of a Zepto dark store in Dharavi due to lapses in hygiene and food safety practices. Last week, it also ordered the closure of a Blinkit dark store in Pune for non-compliance with norms.

Sources said that the FSSAI has taken cognisance of the matter, and inspections of dark stores have already been stepped up in metro cities. Inspections and surveillance have begun in cities including New Delhi and Mumbai. Sources added that the key focus of these inspections is large metropolitan regions where quick commerce players are rapidly gaining traction.

Quick commerce players have been on the radar of the Food Safety Authority for some time now. In November last year, the FSSAI had asked states to step up surveillance of warehouses operated by quick commerce and e-commerce players. It had also held a top-level stakeholder meeting. At the time, it directed quick commerce players, e-commerce platforms, and online sellers to strictly comply with expiry date and labelling regulations, and cautioned them against making misleading claims. It also emphasised the implementation of food safety regulations throughout the entire supply chain, including storage, transportation, logistics, and handling of food products by delivery personnel.

Published on June 11, 2025