Bengaluru, India – Food safety authorities in Bengaluru have confiscated expired and mislabelled food products worth an estimated ₹1.38 crore (approximately $165,000 USD) from major e-commerce and quick-commerce facilities, including those operated by Amazon and Swiggy Instamart. The extensive inspection drive also led to the seizure of medicines valued at ₹4.02 lakh that were allegedly stored without proper licenses.
Intensified Crackdown Targets Online Retailers
The Karnataka Food Safety and Drugs Administration (KFSDA) conducted a series of inspections across Bengaluru, focusing on facilities connected to online and e-commerce platforms. This recent enforcement action is part of an ongoing, intensified food safety crackdown throughout the city, prompted by documents submitted in connection with a 'peptide party' organized in Bengaluru.
Officials meticulously checked manufacturing and expiry dates, shelf life, and mandatory labelling requirements for food products. They also verified the necessary licenses for medicine storage, uncovering multiple violations.
Amazon Facilities Cited for Labelling and Expired Stock
Inspections at Amazon's facilities in Devanahalli and Anekal revealed significant issues:
- Devanahalli: Food products worth ₹14 lakh were seized due to labelling violations, alongside ₹10 lakh worth of expired food items. Additionally, medicines valued at ₹2.45 lakh were confiscated for being stored without a license.
- Anekal: Officials seized food products worth ₹19 lakh for alleged labelling breaches and discovered expired items totalling ₹13 lakh. Medicines worth ₹1.57 lakh were also seized due to licensing irregularities.
The combined value of food products seized from Amazon's facilities alone reached ₹56 lakh.
Swiggy Instamart Facility Shut Down Over Unhygienic Conditions
At a Swiggy Instamart facility in Hoskote, inspectors found expired food products amounting to ₹42 lakh. The facility was subsequently closed by officials due to what they described as unhygienic conditions and violations of the Food Safety and Standards Act and its applicable rules. The investigation into this facility is still ongoing.
Local Stores Also Targeted in Widespread Drive
The crackdown extended beyond large e-commerce warehouses to include local retail and storage units:
- Saptha Bazaar (HBR Layout): Acting on a complaint regarding the alleged resale of expired products, officials seized expired cashew biscuits, ragi flour, chicken patty, paneer, cookies, and other items worth approximately ₹10,000.
- Leo 7 Enterprises (Lingarajapuram): This premises was seized after officials found nutritional products, beverages, chocolates, sweets, and other food items that were either expired or nearing expiry, with a total estimated stock value of ₹56 lakh.
In total, the KFSDA reported seizing food products with incorrect or inadequate labelling worth ₹33 lakh and expired or near-expiry food products valued at ₹1.05 crore. Notices have been issued to all establishments found in violation, with authorities warning of further action under food safety regulations as the city-wide crackdown continues.