Maharashtra FDA flags Blinkit dark store in Pune for operating without food safety license

Maharashtra FDA flags Blinkit dark store in Pune for operating without food safety license

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has flagged a Blinkit dark store in Pune for operating without a mandatory food safety license, as scrutiny of food safety standards among quick commerce firms in India intensifies.

The facility, located near Mitcon College in Balewadi and operated by M/s Energy Darkstore Services, was inspected on June 5 following a consumer food safety complaint. During the inspection, FDA officials found that the store was actively storing and distributing food items without the license required under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

In a formal notice reviewed by Moneycontrol, the Joint Commissioner (Food) directed the operator to immediately halt all food-related operations, clearly stating that the store would not be permitted to operate until a valid license is obtained. The FDA also warned of legal action if this directive is violated.

A detailed inspection report accompanying the notice documented a range of compliance lapses. While the vendor had submitted an application for a license, no approval had been granted at the time of the visit.

Despite this, the facility was found distributing packaged food, some of it in bulk storage racks, without any proper traceability. The inspection further noted that the store maintained unhygienic conditions – food particles were found on the floor, and workers were not wearing headgear while handling food products.

The facility, which reportedly employs around 50 people, had no food safety inspection certificates for any staff member, cold storage units for milk and fruits lacked calibration documentation, and there were no records of safety training provided to employees, among other lapses.

M/s Energy Darkstore Services is understood to be one of Blinkit’s last-mile warehousing and fulfillment partners. This comes at a time when Blinkit, like its peers, has been scaling its quick commerce operations by aggressively expanding its dark store footprint. Its total user base is now also within striking distance of its core food delivery business.

Blinkit did not respond to detailed queries sent by Moneycontrol.

The action against Blinkit’s partner store comes barely a week after the Maharashtra FDA suspended the food business license of Zepto’s parent company, Kiranakart Technologies Pvt Ltd, over serious lapses at one of its Mumbai dark stores.

At Zepto’s Dharavi facility, inspectors found food articles with fungal growth, poor hygiene with products stored near stagnant water, expired items not clearly segregated, and failure to maintain cold storage temperatures in line with regulatory norms. The FDA said the suspension would remain until the company demonstrated corrective action.

Together, the two cases mark a clear escalation in regulatory scrutiny of backend food handling in India’s quick commerce sector. As Blinkit, Zepto, and Swiggy Instamart race to dominate the ultra-fast delivery space, they are increasingly reliant on a network of decentralized, partner-operated warehouses to fulfill orders. Ensuring food safety compliance across this infrastructure has become a critical challenge.