The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued two notices to quick-commerce app Blinkit within two weeks over consumer complaints about spoiled food, including a case where a customer fell ill after consuming curd ordered through the platform, according to medianama.com. The regulator has demanded formal explanations and comprehensive action reports from Blinkit.
FSSAI's letter to Blinkit's senior executives highlighted multiple complaints received via social media and direct representations about unhygienic, spoiled, and damaged food delivered by sellers on the app. The regulator cited Sections 26 and 27 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, which impose a duty on food business operators to ensure food safety and prohibit the sale of unsafe or adulterated food. This means Blinkit cannot claim to be merely a delivery channel but must ensure food safety before it reaches consumers.
The notices reflect growing regulatory scrutiny of quick-commerce platforms amid rising consumer complaints about food quality. The May 15 notice specifically addressed poor-quality eggs sold on Blinkit, following social media backlash. The FSSAI's actions underscore the obligations of online food sellers under Indian food safety laws, aligning with broader efforts to hold platforms accountable for product quality and consumer health.
Blinkit must submit a comprehensive action taken report within a specified timeframe as directed by FSSAI. The regulator’s enforcement follows documented consumer complaints, including medical prescriptions attached to reports, emphasizing the seriousness of the issue and the legal responsibilities of food business operators under the Food Safety and Standards Act.