Introduction

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has allegedly increased surprise audits and spot checks on dark stores of key fast commerce companies, especially for packaged foods, in response to many reports on hygiene violations.

Additionally, a few direct-to-consumer (D2C) food brands have been the subject of “surprise visits” by FSSAI representatives. Quick commerce companies are now selectively adding small-scale new-age brands on their platforms and are more vigilant about hygiene, according to an ET report.

The reports

“These audits are being done to ensure quality control at all dark stores,” an FSSAI officer told ET.

According to the report, a senior official in the quick commerce industry disclosed that checks were conducted at other companies’ dark stores following Telangana’s Commissioner of Food Safety’s discovery of repeated infractions at Blinkit warehouses close to Hyderabad. 

During a June raid, the Telangana food safety department discovered a Blinkit warehouse in the Medchal Malkajgiri area to be unhygienic and disorganized. They planned to take more action against the quick commerce major after seizing food goods worth INR 82,000 that were either non-compliant or expired.

Another person told ET, “It is specifically more in food and FMCG (fast-moving consumer goods). I know at least three brands whose warehouses were checked too. While there were no serious violations, it has alarmed them.”

Bottom Line

The announcement coincides with quick commerce providers’ expansion of product catalogues in answer to the growing demand for same-day delivery services.

Source: Economic Times