Maharashtra FDA suspends five warehouse licences

Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration suspended the licences of five warehouses and seized 8,392 kilograms of food stock valued at Rs 48,08,924 during inspections in Thane and Pune districts on October 14 and 15. The agency said the stock included expired, damaged or rejected products and that it suspended the licences after inspections and hearings. The FDA’s action involved facilities operated by Reliance Consumer Products, Reliance Retail, Zomato Hyperpure and Blinkit. It also ordered two unlicensed establishments to stop operating, according to the agency’s account. The inspections covered warehouses, disposal centres and retail outlets in Bhiwandi, Ambernath and Pune district’s Khed taluka. At Zomato Hyperpure’s warehouse in Usatane, inspectors found 5,431 products weighing 1,590 kilograms and valued at Rs 7.80 lakh, the FDA said. The items were expired, damaged or rejected. Inspectors also reported hygiene problems, including rodent and cockroach infestations, and deficiencies in cold-chain maintenance and vehicle hygiene. The warehouse stores and distributes products for Blinkit. At Reliance Consumer Products’ Wadpe warehouse, the FDA reported about 4,659 kilograms...