The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the licences of 105 food business establishments, including those linked to quick-commerce platforms Blinkit and Zepto, following a statewide inspection drive ahead of Diwali. The authority has also ordered seven establishments to shut down operations due to multiple food safety violations.
The inspection drive was conducted on November 4 and 5 across Maharashtra. According to the FDA, the suspended licences include 39 establishments in the Nashik division, 28 in Mumbai, 20 in Pune, 15 in Amravati, two in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and one in Thane.
Among the establishments facing licence suspension were Blink Commerce Pvt Ltd and Zepto Ltd in Mumbai, along with several food manufacturers, sweet shops, hotels, restaurants and catering businesses.
During the inspections, officials identified several violations, including unhygienic manufacturing and storage conditions, improper food handling and packaging practices, inadequate pest control, lack of temperature-control arrangements and non-availability of mandatory records and certificates.
As part of the enforcement drive, the FDA seized 39,485.42 kg of food articles valued at approximately ?1.35 crore from more than 70 establishments. The seized products included mawa, khoa, paneer, ghee, edible oils, farsan, dry fruits and various sweets.
The seven establishments ordered to close included three in Pune, two in Amravati and one each in Mumbai and the Konkan division. Among the establishments identified were Rajdhani Biryani Centre in Mumbai and Aaradhana Dryfruit Sweets in Bhiwandi.
The action highlights the increasing regulatory focus on food safety, hygiene and compliance across India's food service and quick-commerce ecosystem. The FDA has clarified that establishments whose licences have been suspended cannot conduct food business operations during the suspension period.