FDA suspends license of Zepto's parent company to operate Dharavi store after safety violations
MUMBAI: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the food business license of one of the warehouses of Kiranakart Technologies Pvt. Ltd., the parent company of quick-commerce platform
Zepto
.
This was after serious
food safety violations
at its
Dharavi facility
.
The suspension was issued after an inspection conducted by FDA officials on Saturday revealed multiple breaches of
food safety standards
.
Inspectors found fungal growth on food items, storage of food near stagnant water, and the presence of expired products. Some food items were allegedly stored directly on wet and unhygienic floors, and cold storage units reportedly failed to meet prescribed safety norms.
The inspection was carried out on the directive of Yogesh Kadam, Minister of State for Food and Drug Administration.
Following the inspection, assistant commissioner (Food) Anupamaa Patil issued the suspension order under Section 32(3) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and Regulation 2.1.8(4) of the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011.
FDA officials stated that the license suspension will remain in effect until the company fully complies with the food safety norms and receives clearance from the licensing authority.
TOI attempted to reach out to Zepto, but company representatives were unavailable for comment.
A Zepto spokesperson said, 'At Zepto, maintaining the highest standards of food safety and hygiene is non-negotiable. We have already initiated an internal review and are working closely with the concerned authorities to ensure full and swift compliance."
The spokesperson further said that the company will be rectifying the lapses identified. "We are taking all necessary corrective measures to resume operations in accordance with regulatory obligations and applicable laws at the earliest," the spokesperson said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Amid staff crunch, FDA to appoint 40 food safety officers this week
Mumbai: After operating with just five food safety officers (FSOs) for nearly a year, the city's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is expected to appoint at least 40 new FSOs by June 7, in a bid to address a severe staffing shortfall. The drug department under the FDA is similarly stretched thin with only five field officers in the city. It may take another year to reach its required strength of 25 to 30 here. Officials say the shortage significantly hampered inspections and enforcement, overburdening the limited staff. Following action taken against a Zepto facility in Dharavi on Sunday, FDA officials admitted they currently lack the manpower to inspect similar warehouses operated by delivery platforms. "Food safety officers are the field workers who conduct sampling and routine inspections. Without adequate numbers, essential tasks like testing for milk adulteration or checking ice quality can't happen at the large scale required," said Mangesh Mane, joint commissioner (Food). Although over 40 officers are expected to be appointed within days, Mane said training will take another month or two. "We expect them to join the workforce by October," he added. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Switch to UnionBank Rewards Card UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo FDA commissioner Rajesh Narvekar said the food division has 350 sanctioned posts, but only 132 are filled, leaving a gap of 218 officers. After repeated proposals to the govt and the Maharashtra Public Service Commission, 194 food safety officers and 8 assistant commissioners were finally selected, bringing the department's total strength to just over 300. However, according to food safety norms, one officer per 1,000 food business operators, the FDA needs at least 1,100 officers. The drug department, meanwhile, has 200 sanctioned posts but only 48 filled, with 152 vacancies still open. A revised recruitment proposal has been submitted to MPSC, but officials say it will take another year. The persistent shortfall is largely due to a prolonged pause in recruitment drives and a wave of retirements, promotions, and transfers over the past year or more. "We are meeting our targets by working extra hours. Leaves are being sacrificed, but we're trying not to let it affect our functioning," said an official from the drug department. Still, gaps remain. "There's no major problem due to shortfall in issuing manufacturing licenses after conducting their inspections," said Narvekar. "The problem is in monitoring retailers and wholesalers," he added. Abhay Pandey, president of the All Food and Drug Licence Holders Foundation, warned of serious public health consequences. "Random sampling at retail stores and distributor levels simply isn't happening for more than a year at a scale it should. Without it, there's no way to ensure quality control," he said.
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
Entrepreneur finds alternative to make areca plates safer after US ban
Mangaluru: Entrepreneur and researcher Nivedan Nempe has developed an innovative, eco-friendly alternative following the recent US ban on arecanut leaf sheath dinnerware. His intervention comes at a crucial time, as areca growers and industry experts from Karnataka's areca belt have appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to seek the lifting of the restriction. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an import alert banning dinnerware made from areca catechu sheaths, citing the presence of naturally occurring toxins that may migrate into food at unsafe levels. The FDA's concerns significantly impacted India's $400-500 million areca plate industry, with nearly 80–85% of exports directed to the US. Most manufacturers are concentrated in Dakshina Kannada and Shivamogga, and the ban threatens the livelihoods of many families. Nivedan, founder of Areca Tea and operating in Udupi and Shivamogga, acknowledged the FDA's concerns and told TOI: "As a preventive step, the FDA banned imports. But this severely affects Indian manufacturers. The Indian industry made efforts, including writing to the FDA, but the industry is at risk." In response, Nempe engineered a food-grade, anti-microbial paper lining that acts as a barrier between the food and the areca plate, preventing toxin migration and fungal growth. "The material is certified, heat-resistant up to 300°C, durable, printable, and gives a premium finish. It meets international safety standards without altering the existing production process," he said. While the innovation may increase production costs by 10–15%, Nivedan believes that it is the best way forward. "Our lab results were positive on all parameters. It even looks better than bagasse plates. My goal is to safeguard the industry and support the farmers by supplying this new food-grade paper."
Mint
11 hours ago
- Mint
Bodor Laser's Global Troubles Mount: U.S. Lawsuit, FDA Recall, and Indian Customs Action Raise Red Flags Over Safety
May 2025 |— Bodor Laser, a laser cutting machine manufacturer that once touted itself as a global leader, is now grappling with mounting regulatory and legal scrutiny across two of the world's largest industrial markets: the United States and India. In the U.S., Bodor is facing a multi-million-dollar wrongful death lawsuit filed in Nevada following the fatal crushing of a 38-year-old worker, Jose Luis Ortiz Rojas, at a manufacturing facility in Las Vegas. The incident involved a Bodor P3015 laser cutting machine, which allegedly failed to detect Ortiz's presence after he opened the side door. Despite the company's promotional claims of 'intelligent visual collision avoidance,' the lawsuit asserts that the machine's safety system was either disabled or nonfunctional at the time of the accident. The plaintiff's family further accuses Bodor of fraudulent marketing practices, arguing that the company misled customers via exaggerated safety claims on its website and in product videos. The civil case has ignited serious concerns among U.S. regulators and industrial buyers, with product liability, gross negligence, and deceptive trade practices forming the core of the legal complaint. Adding regulatory weight to the controversy, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently issued a Class II recall affecting 269 units of Bodor's P and C Series laser cutting machines produced between 2018 and 2024. The recall notice cited the absence of mandatory interlock systems, lack of presence detection, and improper certification labeling. In 2024, the FDA issued a formal Import Alert, subjecting further shipments to heightened scrutiny or outright refusal of entry into the U.S. market. Bodor has since announced corrective measures, including hardware retrofits and on-site inspections, but the damage to its reputation appears significant. Several U.S.-based metal fabricators are reportedly reassessing their Bodor installations in light of the recall. While Bodor's challenges in the U.S. stem from product safety and regulatory labeling, the company's India operations are now embroiled in a separate, high-stakes customs dispute. In October 2024, Chennai Customs seized three consignments of laser machines imported by Bodor Laser India Pvt. Ltd., citing false declaration of origin. The shipments were listed as 'Made in Thailand,' but inspections revealed substantial Chinese-origin components and packaging — a potential attempt to bypass India's anti-dumping duties on Chinese goods. The seized shipments, valued at ₹ 37.7 million, have not been released. Indian authorities have demanded a provisional bond of ₹ 152 million (roughly USD 1.8 million) to cover potential penalties and duties. The matter is being investigated under Sections 110 and 114A of the Customs Act, and criminal prosecution is reportedly under consideration. When seen together, the U.S. safety violations, FDA recall, and Indian customs seizure suggest a troubling pattern of systemic noncompliance across multiple jurisdictions. Bodor's marketing claims, safety engineering, and trade conduct are all under the microscope. As both developed and emerging markets tighten oversight on imported industrial equipment, Bodor Laser's challenges serve as a high-profile warning to global exporters: regulatory diligence is not optional—it's the price of long-term market access.
