FSSAI licenses suspended of four quick commerce dark stores in Hyderabad over food safety violations

Four quick-commerce dark stores in Hyderabad have had their FSSAI licences suspended and have been ordered to stop business operations immediately following inspections by the Telangana Standards Authority for Food and Essential Drugs (TG SAFE) on Wednesday.

During the inspections, TG SAFE officials found expired and damaged food products, unhygienic premises, pest infestation and other food safety violations.

The action followed inspections of 16 dark stores operated by Kwickbox Retail Private Limited which operates dark stores of Swiggy Instamart, Instakart Services Private Limited, which operates dark stores of Flipkart, Zepto Private Limited and Dropx Logistics across Hyderabad.

The four establishments whose licences were suspended include a Swiggy Instamart store at Petbasheerbad, a Flipkart store near Charminar, a Zepto store in Koti and another Swiggy Instamart store at Saidabad.

The four establishments whose licences were suspended include a Swiggy Instamart store at Petbasheerbad, a Flipkart store near Charminar, a Zepto store in Koti and another Swiggy Instamart store at Saidabad.

The hygiene violations uncovered at these places include unhygienic premises, damaged and expired food articles, improper handling and storage of food, spoiled vegetables with fungal infestation, violations of FSSAI labelling and display regulations, cockroach and pest infestation and improper maintenance of cold-room temperatures. 

During the inspections, TG SAFE officials found expired and damaged food products, unhygienic premises, pest infestation and other food safety violations

TG SAFE officials also lifted 15 food samples on suspicion of adulteration. Improvement notices will be issued to three establishments, while show-cause notices will be issued to five others for the violations found during inspection. The establishments issued improvement notices will be re-inspected to verify compliance, while further action, including penalties, will be initiated against those issued show-cause notices, officials said.