Reliance Retail faces FDA crackdown again; action also on Blinkit-linked facility

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has taken action against Reliance Retail for the second consecutive day on Sunday, suspending the licences of its warehouse in Chakan along with that of a Blinkit-linked facility in Nighoje, both in Pune district, officials said.

In a statement, the FDA said it found food safety violations, including rodent infestation, improper storage and failure to maintain records of disposal of expired food products.

The FDA inspected Reliance Retail Ltd’s warehouse at Chakan in Khed taluka on October 14 and found that the establishment failed to produce satisfactory records regarding the disposal or destruction of expired and spoiled food products, it said.

“Rodent infestation was found across the warehouse, while expired and spoiled products were stored together without segregation. Cockroaches were also found in floor crevices and employees were seen spitting within the premises,” the statement said.

Although the company produced an agreement with a waste disposal agency, it failed to submit verifiable evidence of the actual disposal of the expired products, the FDA pointed out.

The designated officer in Pune’s Circle 5 suspended the warehouse’s licence on October 15, and an FIR was registered at North Mahaluge MIDC police station in connection with the matter, the FDA said.

The FDA also inspected the warehouse of M/s Linkit Commerce Pvt Ltd, linked to Blinkit, at Nighoje in Khed taluka on October 14.

The inspection found that the cold-room temperature exceeded 5 degrees Celsius and records to establish maintenance of the cold chain were unavailable, the FDA said.

“Raw and non-raw food items were stored together, while 50 kg of Tata Salt and 60 kg of semolina were kept directly on the floor. Leaking packets and cockroach infestation were also observed. Of around 600 employees, only five had FoSTaC (Food Safety Training and Certification),” the statement said.

The company produced an agreement with M/s Y K Traders but failed to provide verifiable evidence showing where, when and in what quantities expired food products had been disposed of, it said.

The FDA suspended its licence on October 15 and an FIR was also registered at the South Mahaluge MIDC police station, it said.

On October 17, the FDA took action against multiple warehouses in Pune and Thane districts over suspected diversion of expired, damaged and rejected food products meant for destruction back into the market.

The action included facilities associated with Reliance Consumer Products and Reliance Retail at Wadpe in Bhiwandi, and Zomato Hyperpure at Usatane in Ambernath. Two unlicensed establishments were also ordered to stop operations.

The wider operation resulted in the suspension of five warehouse licences and seizure of 8,392 kg of stock valued at Rs 48.08 lakh.