A lizard in one facility. Cockroaches and spider webs in another. And expired yoghurt, brownies and ghee on the shelves of a third. Delhi’s food safety inspectors found all this at warehouses and dark stores linked to major grocery delivery and retail companies, in checks carried out ahead of the festive season.
The inspections covered facilities operated by Swiggy Instamart, Zepto, Blinkit, Zomato Hyperpure and Reliance Retail. Officials found hygiene violations, improper food storage and lapses in maintaining the prescribed temperatures, the Delhi government said on Saturday.
Officials found hygiene violations, improper food storage and lapses in maintaining the prescribed temperatures, the Delhi government said on Saturday. The inspections covered facilities operated by Swiggy Instamart, Zepto, Blinkit, Zomato Hyperpure and Reliance Retail. Zepto’s Jheel Khureja facility had cockroaches and spider webs, along with dirty and rusted storage racks. Some food products were placed on top of spoiled items, and others were kept directly on the floor. Inspectors also flagged lapses in maintaining cold-storage temperatures. At Reliance Retail’s premises in Wazirpur Industrial Area, inspectors found flies, mosquitoes, spider webs and a lizard. The cleaning schedule and the related checklist were also missing. At Blinkit’s facilities on Asaf Ali Road and in Daryaganj, officials found dirty crates, dust in storage areas and inadequate arrangements for rat traps. At its Rohini facility, food products were not properly separated, which could lead to cross-contamination.
READ | Delhi Food Authority Destroys 4,100 kg Unsafe Paneer, Khoya Amid Festive Season
