Food safety violations at Blinkit warehouse: Telangana authority to issue notice

Telangana’s Commissioner of Food Safety on Thursday said it will take action after multiple violations were detected at a warehouse near Hyderabad being used by Zomato’s quick commerce platform Blinkit.

“Task force team has conducted inspection in Blinkit Warehouse at Devaryamjal, Medchal Malkajgiri District…The premises found to be very disorganised, unhygienic and dusty at storage racks (sic),” the food safety commissioner said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.



Several products in the warehouse were found to have expired and were seized, according to the post.

“Suspected infested Whole Farm Ragi flour and Toor dal of worth Rs. 52k was seized and samples sent to lab,” it added.

The commissioner also said cosmetic products were stored with food items, and that the licence of Congruence Trade and Services Pvt Ltd – one of the manufacturers of Whole Farm brand – was not as per the Food Safety and Standards Act.

“Food handlers were found without headgears, gloves and aprons. Medical fitness certificates of food handlers not available,” it said.

“Notice will be issued and further action shall be taken accordingly,” the food safety commissioner added.

“We take safety and hygiene standards very seriously. We are closely working with our warehouse partner and the food safety department to implement corrective actions from the findings,” a Blinkit spokesperson said.

The raid at the quick commerce platform’s warehouse comes at a time when the sector, which also includes players such as Nexus Venture Partners-backed Zepto, Prosus-backed Swiggy’s Instamart, and Tata Digital-backed Big Basket’s BB Now, has been witnessing a rapid growth.

Blinkit operated 526 dark stores, or micro warehouses, across India as of March 31, and plans to expand this number to 1,000 by the end of fiscal 2025. It also operates multiple larger warehouses on the outskirts of urban centres to feed the dark stores.

Over the last few months Blinkit, as well as other quick commerce companies, have added a multitude of product categories including beauty and personal care, consumer electronics, home decor, apparel, sports goods and electronic appliances.

This is in addition to the mainstay food and grocery products that these platforms deliver.