75 E-Commerce Warehouses Inspected In Hyderabad; Expired and Misbranded Food Items Seized

Hyderabad: In a major enforcement drive across Telangana, the Commissioner of Food Safety conducted inspections on warehouses operated by leading e-commerce and quick-commerce platforms, uncovering significant lapses in hygiene, labeling, and expiry compliance. The statewide checks revealed substantial quantities of expired, misbranded, and improperly stored food products.

The surprise inspection covered several top delivery platforms, including Zepto, Reliance JioMart, Blinkit, BigBasket, Zomato, Swiggy, Flipkart, and Amazon, along with multiple local distribution units that

support last-mile delivery.

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75 Warehouses Under Scanner

Over the course of the operation, food safety teams inspected 75 warehouses across different districts. Officials closely examined storage conditions, cold-chain practices, hygiene protocols, and adherence to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) guidelines. The inspections were part of an effort to tighten monitoring of rapidly expanding online food delivery networks.

More Than 220 Samples Collected for Testing

During the inspections, teams collected 222 samples — comprising 98 enforcement samples and 124 surveillance samples — for laboratory analysis. These samples will undergo detailed testing to determine whether they comply with food safety standards and labeling requirements.

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Expired Stocks, Rotten Food Seized

The drive resulted in the seizure of 1,903 food product units that were either expired, misbranded, or found with misleading labels. Officials also discarded 76 kilograms of expired food items, stale prepared food, and rotten vegetables that were deemed unfit for consumption. Many of these products were stocked in violation of storage norms or beyond their permissible shelf-life.

32 Improvement Notices Issued

Following the discovery of these violations, the department issued 32 improvement notices to warehouse operators. These notices mandate corrective action related to hygiene practices, maintenance of storage facilities, labeling standards, and overall food-handling procedures. Authorities warned that further violations would attract strict penalties and potential legal action.

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Consumer Safety Remains Priority

Officials stated that such inspection drives will continue in the coming weeks as part of a sustained effort to ensure consumer safety. With the rapid expansion of e-commerce and quick-commerce services in Telangana, the Food Safety Department aims to reinforce accountability among warehouses supplying groceries and ready-to-eat products.

The department urged consumers to remain vigilant, check product labels, and promptly report any suspicious or expired items purchased through online.

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