Pune: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) raided a Blinkit store in Pune, uncovering numerous serious deficiencies that led to the suspension of the store’s license. The FDA took action due to the absence of a food license, unhygienic food storage, dusty food packets, unclean floors, employees working without medical certificates, lack of pest control, absence of purchase bills, lack of regular cleaning, absence of a cooperation certificate for the cold storage unit, untrained staff, and no audits conducted. According to the company, their license had expired a few days before the raid and was in the process of renewal.
FDA officials stated that during an inspection of a Blinkit store in Pune, many serious deficiencies were found, prompting the FDA to take action. “The store was operating without a food license,” FDA officials said.
Store employees claimed that the license had expired a few days prior and was sent for renewal. However, the FDA inspection revealed numerous violations, resulting in the suspension of the store’s license.
Key findings during the FDA inspection included:
- The store did not possess a food license.
- Food products were stored in unhygienic conditions.
- Many food packets were covered in dust.
- The premises’ floor was dusty and unclean.
- Approximately 50 employees were working in dark, dimly lit rooms without valid medical certificates.
- No pest control had been carried out; the store could not provide any certificate related to it.
- Employees could not present purchase bills for the stored food items.
- The premises were not cleaned regularly.
- There was no cooperation certificate for the cold storage unit.
- Employees were untrained and were not wearing basic safety equipment like gloves or caps.
- The store had not undergone any internal or external audits.
Based on these observations, the FDA has suspended the store’s license until further notice. The company stated, “Our license had expired just a few days before the raid, so we did have a license to operate the store.” This action was taken due to violations of food safety and standards acts.
FDA officials emphasized, “Compliance with food safety standards is mandatory, and strict action will be taken against those who compromise public health.” Following this incident, there is a possibility that other Blinkit stores will be inspected. The action taken by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) against the Blinkit store in Pune has caused a stir. This action sends a strong message to other establishments that fail to comply with food safety standards.
The FDA has clarified that ensuring the health of citizens is the administration’s priority, and no negligence in this regard will be tolerated. After the irregularities were exposed at the Blinkit store in Pune, there is now a possibility of inspections at stores in other cities. The FDA has warned that strict action will be taken against those who violate food safety standards.
This incident has raised questions about the operations of online food delivery companies. These companies must ensure cleanliness and adherence to safety standards in their stores. Citizens have expressed satisfaction with the action taken by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), stating that such irregularities need to be controlled.
