The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cancelled the licence of Reliance Retail's warehouse in Chakan on October 15 after uncovering serious hygiene violations, including rodent infestations and cockroach presence. The crackdown, led by FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, also resulted in the suspension of a Blinkit-linked facility's licence in Nighoje, according to livemint.com.
FDA officials inspected the Reliance warehouse on October 14 and found expired and spoiled products stored alongside each other without segregation. Employees were observed spitting inside the premises, and cockroaches were found in floor crevices. Although Reliance Retail presented an agreement with a waste disposal agency, it failed to provide verifiable proof of proper disposal of expired products. Following the inspection, the FDA registered a First Information Report (FIR) related to these violations.
This action is part of a broader crackdown by the Maharashtra FDA on unsafe food practices across the state. The cancellation of the licence of a major warehouse operated by Reliance Retail highlights regulatory authorities' increasing enforcement against food safety lapses. The suspension of the Blinkit-linked facility's licence further signals intensified scrutiny on e-commerce and retail supply chains, sectors critical to food distribution in India.
The FDA's intervention on October 15 marks a significant enforcement step, with the FIR filed to investigate the violations at the Reliance warehouse. The agency's ongoing inspections aim to ensure compliance with food safety norms across Maharashtra's retail and warehousing operations.