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The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) launched a major inspection drive on e-commerce warehouses in Tamil Nadu and found serious lapses in food storage. During the three-day operation, officials inspected 37 warehouses in the Coimbatore district alone, acting on directions from the State Health Secretary and the Commissioner of Food Safety.

Officials Discover Expired Stock at Flipkart Facility

During the checks, officials visited Flipkart India Private Limited’s warehouse at Okkilipalayam on Palladam Road near Othakalmandapam on July 17. They discovered two batches of black dates of the brand ‘Manna,’ which had already expired—one on May 19, 2025, and the other on May 30, 2025. The combined weight of the expired stock was 273.6 kg. “Staff stored these expired products on regular racks along with items meant for sale instead of isolating them and marking them as ‘not for sale,’” said Dr. T. Anuradha, Designated Officer for FSSAI in Coimbatore. Officials immediately destroyed the expired stock and served a notice to Flipkart seeking an explanation.

FSSAI Rejects Return Plan; Destroys Stock

Flipkart, in its response, claimed that its internal quality checks had already identified and segregated the expired dates. “These items were stored in a designated zone and were never intended for sale. Our advanced technology and robust processes ensure that only products with sufficient shelf life reach our customers,” the company stated. Flipkart said it planned to return the expired stock to the manufacturer. However, FSSAI refused permission and destroyed the products on-site to prevent any chance of re-entry into the supply chain.

Source: The Hindu