Zomato’s Blinkit Warehouse in Hyderabad Raided: Multiple Health Violations Uncovered
Zomato's Blinkit Warehouse in Hyderabad Raided: Multiple Health Violations Uncovered
In a recent raid, the Food Safety Department found numerous health violations at a Blinkit warehouse in Hyderabad’s Devarayamjal area, Medchal-Malkajgiri district.
Blinkit, the quick-commerce arm of Zomato, was found lacking basic hygiene measures, raising concerns about the safety of its stored food products.
Key Findings: The inspection revealed that several items, including whole farm ragi flour and toor dal worth Rs 52,000, were infested. Additionally, products manufactured by Kamakshi Foods, such as suji (semolina), raw peanut butter, maida (refined flour), poha (flattened rice), besan (gram flour), and bajra (pearl millet) worth Rs 30,000, were found to be expired and were seized. The commissioner of the Food Safety Department confirmed these findings on X (formerly Twitter).
The department also highlighted the general disarray and unhygienic conditions of the warehouse. Storage racks were dusty, and the overall premises were deemed disorganized and unsanitary.
A Blinkit spokesperson responded, stating, “We take safety and hygiene standards very seriously. We are closely working with our warehouse partner and the Food Safety Department to implement corrective actions based on the findings.”
This raid comes at a critical time for the quick-commerce sector, which is rapidly expanding and altering consumer shopping habits. Companies like Blinkit, in their rush to scale operations and increase the number of stock-keeping units (SKUs), appear to be overlooking essential hygiene checks.
Blinkit operates in multiple Indian cities, delivering orders within 10 minutes through dark stores—small warehouses in residential areas. These stores are not open to the public and are typically located in secluded areas to keep rental costs low.
This incident marks the first major raid on a quick-commerce company, but it follows a pattern of increased scrutiny by Hyderabad’s Food Safety Department. Last month, Rameshwaram Cafe, a popular food joint, was found using expired products and maintaining open dustbins in food preparation areas. The cafe admitted its fault and initiated an internal inquiry.
As quick-commerce gains prominence, the need for stringent hygiene and safety measures becomes ever more critical. This raid serves as a reminder for companies in this sector to prioritize health standards to ensure consumer safety.
