FDA uncovers expired food resale; FIR filed against Reliance, Blinkit executives

Mumbai: An investigation by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has uncovered the alleged resale of expired, spoiled, rejected and customer-returned food items that were meant to be destroyed after disposal. An FIR has been registered at Thane’s Shanti Nagar police station against 10 people, including officials and employees of Reliance Retail, Blinkit and Zomato Hyperpure, disposal agency operators and local suppliers.

The FDA conducted coordinated raids in Thane and Pune districts on Oct 14 and 15, uncovering food stock worth Rs 48 lakh. An FDA press release said that it has suspended five warehouse licences belonging to Reliance Consumer Products, Reliance Retail, Zomato Hyperpure and Blinkit at Bhiwandi, Ambernath and Khed in Pune district.

Two unlicensed establishments were directed to shut down. According to an FDA police complaint filed by assistant commissioner Praveen Shinde, the companies allegedly routed expired, damaged and returned food products through disposal agencies, middlemen and unlicensed sorting centres for resale in the open market instead of destroying them as required under regulations.

Investigators also found discrepancies in disposal documents, purchase bills and stock movement records.