Zepto’s Mumbai facility resumes operations

Quick commerce platform Zepto’s Dharavi facility in Mumbai has resumed operations after the Maharashtra branch of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had suspended the food business licence for its parent firm Kiranakart Technologies, according to a press release shared by the company.

Two weeks back, the FDA had revoked the food business license of the facility following an investigation in which they found fungal growth on food articles, food storage near stagnant water, cold storage temperature not maintained and expired food items not segregated from the main stock.

The Food Safety Commission and FDA conducted a reinspection of the facility and found that necessary corrective actions had been implemented.

“After reviewing the internal audit report, water analysis report, and photographic evidence, the appellate authority was pleased to pass an order allowing the appeal and thereby revoking the suspension order,” Zepto said in the press release shared with ET.

On June 1, ET reported that the quick commerce platform was found to have violated the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011, at its storage facilities in Dharavi.

Last week, the FDA conducted a similar inspection at a dark store of Blinkit in Pune. The authorities found that the facility didn’t have the necessary certificates in place.

Further, the facility had also violated food safety measures. The authorities found food items on the floor, the pest control audit certificate missing, workers in the food area not wearing protective caps, food items stored on dusty racks and a cold storage without a calibration certificate.On June 12, ET reported that senior officials in the consumer affairs ministry said the central government has taken cognisance of recent food safety complaints amid poor sanitary conditions at dark stores or warehouses from where such deliveries are made.