Maharashtra FDA Suspends Reliance Retail, Blinkit-Linked Warehouse Licences

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has intensified its crackdown on food safety violations, suspending licences at warehouses linked to Reliance Retail and Blinkit in Pune district after inspections reportedly uncovered serious hygiene deficiencies, improper storage practices and inadequate documentation for the disposal of expired food products. The action forms part of a wider investigation into the suspected diversion of expired, damaged and rejected food items back into the market, raising concerns about consumer protection and accountability across India's organised retail and quick-commerce supply chains.

The FDA inspected Reliance Retail's Chakan warehouse and Linkit Commerce Pvt Ltd's Blinkit-linked facility at Nighoje on October 14, suspending both licences on October 15. Separate FIRs were registered at North and South Mahaluge MIDC police stations. At Chakan, officials reported rodent infestation, cockroaches, expired products stored without segregation and unhygienic employee practices. Reliance Retail reportedly failed to provide verifiable evidence that expired and spoiled products had been destroyed despite producing a waste disposal agreement.

At Nighoje, inspectors found cold-room temperatures exceeding 5 degrees Celsius, missing cold-chain records, leaking packets and raw and non-raw food stored together. Around 50 kg of Tata Salt and 60 kg of semolina were reportedly kept directly on the floor. Only five of approximately 600 employees had Food Safety Training and Certification (FoSTaC), the FDA said. The company also failed to provide verifiable disposal details despite presenting an agreement with Y K Traders.

The crackdown extended to facilities associated with Reliance Consumer Products, Reliance Retail, Blinkit and Zomato Hyperpure across Pune and Thane. The wider operation resulted in five warehouse licence suspensions, orders to shut two unlicensed establishments and the seizure of 8,392 kg of stock worth ₹48.08 lakh. Investigators suspect products meant for destruction were diverted through contractors and unauthorised sorting yards. A separate FIR in Thane reportedly named 10 people, while Reuters reported that executives associated with the businesses were named in the wider probe. These allegations remain under investigation.

The action follows earlier scrutiny of quick-commerce facilities, including reported Maharashtra FDA inspections in August 2026. Under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, food businesses must maintain applicable hygiene, storage and handling standards. The latest findings highlight concerns over pest control, temperature monitoring, expiry tracking and traceable disposal records.

For consumers, the central issue is whether expired or contaminated products can re-enter the supply chain. The FDA's investigation underscores the need for verified waste disposal, stronger warehouse audits and accountability across third-party contractors. The findings must be established through due process, but the case reinforces that rapid delivery cannot come at the cost of food safety.