Zepto’s Bengaluru warehouse sealed over unhygienic handling of food

The Food Safety and Drug Administration officials on Tuesday (August 11) sealed a warehouse of the quick-commerce firm Zepto in Bengaluru’s Hoskote after finding "unhygienic" food-handling and storage conditions during an inspection drive.

The incident comes days after raids on five-star hotels and top restaurants in the state capital. A few days ago, the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration also suspended the food licence of a Blink Commerce facility in Mumbai over extensive "cockroach infestation" and improper item storage, while an outlet of Reliance Retail is under the lens after live larvae were allegedly found in a popular sweet variety.

‘Extremely unhygienic, non-compliant’

Inspecting officials reportedly found organic waste, discarded wrappers and bottles, cardboard boxes, and accumulated filth on the warehouse floor during the raid.

Calling the conditions “extremely unhygienic,” officials flagged non-compliant food labelling, misbranding and unhygienic handling of food.

"The Food Safety Division of the Food Safety and Drug Administration Department, Health and Family Welfare Department, conducted a special inspection drive at the Zepto Warehouse unit located in Hoskote Taluk, Bengaluru Rural District, with the objective of inspecting the quality, safety, storage, labelling and food handling practices of food products at the unit. During the inspection, various food safety violations were observed, including non-compliant labelling, misbranding, unhygienic food handling and storage conditions, and other violations of FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) requirements," the department said in a statement.

"In view of the unhygienic food handling and storage conditions observed, the warehouse was sealed in accordance with the applicable FSSAI provisions," it said in the statement.

Also read: CCPA fines Zepto, Physics Wallah, IndiGo among 9 platforms nearly Rs 20 lakh over dark patterns

A notice has also been sent to the facility, and inspecting officials recommended that a case be filed against Zepto.

"Strict legal action will be taken against food business operators found violating food safety regulations. The Food Safety and Drug Administration Department will continue to undertake such special inspection drives to ensure that the public has access to safe, quality and hygienic food," it declared.

Indira canteen warehouses sealed

Besides Zepto, the officials also sealed warehouses of an Indira Canteen in Gottigere.

Department officials inspected three kitchens of Indira canteens through which the government serves highly subsidised food. Indira Canteens are the Congress government’s flagship initiatives, which were started by former chief minister Siddaramaiah during his previous stint from 2013 to 2018.

According to officials, the searches were conducted at three Indira Canteens at Gottigere and Singasandra in Bengaluru South and Lingarajapuram in Bengaluru North by a special team to inspect the quality, safety, storage, labelling and food handling practices at the main kitchens/food preparation units of these canteens, in accordance with the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, the Food Safety and Standards Rules, 2011, and the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011.

Also read: Food safety drive: 26 Bengaluru 3-star, 5-star hotels inspected; expired food seized

During the inspection, the officials said, samples of various food products, including pulses, turmeric powder, cooking oil, jaggery, salt, sugar and other prepared food items, were collected from the concerned establishments and sent to the designated food laboratory for analysis to assess their quality and compliance with prescribed food safety standards.

Food safety department crackdown

The latest round of inspections comes amid a crackdown on several star hotels and high-end restaurants in Bengaluru.

The department warned of strict legal action against food business operators found violating food safety regulations.

"The Food Safety and Drug Administration Department will continue to undertake such special inspection drives to ensure that the public is provided with safe, wholesome, hygienic and quality food," it added.

Following the violations observed during the inspections conducted, the department has also issued an advisory in this regard.

According to the advisory, small hotels, dhabas, restaurants and other food service establishments have been instructed to strictly comply with the guidelines in accordance with the Food Safety and Standards Act and the applicable Regulations, 2011.

The Food Business Operators (FBOs) are required to follow the specified rules.

Dept lays out rules

The advisory stated that the licence holder must display the licence at a prominent place on the premises, while the cooking area must be clean, properly managed and well ventilated. There must be separate sinks for washing utensils, cleaning equipment and cleaning raw food. All raw food materials shall be of good quality and procured from reliable and approved sources, it said.

"The quality and condition of food ingredients shall be checked regularly, and appropriate measures shall be taken to prevent spoilage," the advisory stated. All ingredients used for food preparation shall be fresh, wholesome and fit for consumption, and shall be adequately cooked where required, it said.

Also read: Packaged drinking water safety in Tamil Nadu under scrutiny

As per FSSAI regulations, food handlers shall maintain a high standard of personal hygiene. Reuse of used cooking oil shall be avoided, and used cooking oil shall be managed and disposed of through authorised channels, as applicable.

Pest control activities shall be carried out regularly, and proper records of such activities shall be maintained.

"Raw meat, fish/seafood and vegetables shall be stored separately to prevent cross-contamination," it said.

The advisory also stated that expired food products, spoiled fruits, vegetables, and food showing signs of fungal growth shall be immediately removed and disposed of safely.

"Unsafe artificial colours or unauthorised food additives shall not be used in the preparation of food," it said.