Hyderabad suspends four quick-commerce store licences

Food-safety officials in Hyderabad suspended the licences of four quick-commerce dark stores and ordered them to stop operating after inspections found expired and damaged food, pest problems and other hygiene violations, according to Telangana Standards Authority for Food and Essential Drugs (TG SAFE) officials. The action followed inspections of 16 stores operated by Swiggy Instamart, Flipkart, Zepto and Dropx Logistics. The four outlets ordered to close were Swiggy Instamart stores at Pet Basheerabad and Saidabad, a Flipkart outlet on Panjeshah Road in Charminar, and a Zepto store at Ram Koti. The reports describe the inspections as taking place on Wednesday, September 30. Officials reported spoiled vegetables affected by fungus, cockroach and other pest infestations, improper food handling and storage, and failures to meet food-labelling requirements. They also cited unhygienic premises and inadequate cold-room temperature maintenance. At the four outlets, inspection accounts included expired or damaged products and problems with dusty or rusted racks and record-keeping. TG SAFE collected 15 food samples on suspicion of adulteration, the reports said.