Bengaluru food safety officials seized food and medicines worth 1.38 crore rupees from dark stores and storage facilities operated by online delivery platforms, including Amazon and Instamart, during a recent inspection drive. The operation, conducted by the Food Safety and Drugs Administration, followed directives from Health Minister U T Khader under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. The inspections focused on verifying mandatory labelling details and compliance with food safety standards, as well as checking for unlicensed storage of medicines.

At Amazon’s BLR6 facility in Devanahalli, officials seized food products worth 14 lakh rupees for incorrect or inadequate labelling and expired items valued at 10 lakh rupees. Medicines worth 2.45 lakh rupees, allegedly stored without a licence, were also seized. At Amazon’s BLR7 facility in Anekal taluk, food products worth 19 lakh rupees and expired items valued at 13 lakh rupees were confiscated, along with medicines worth 1.57 lakh rupees. The department also found expired food products at Saptha Bazaar in HBR Layout, where officials seized items worth around 10,000 rupees, including cashew biscuits, ragi flour, and paneer.

At Leo 7 Enterprises in Lingarajapuram, officials discovered food products, including nutritional items, beverages, and nuts, that were either expired or nearing expiry. The owner reported storing food worth approximately 56 lakh rupees at the premises, which were subsequently sealed. At an Instamart facility in Hoskote, officials seized expired food products worth 42 lakh rupees, citing unhygienic conditions and violations of the Food Safety and Standards Act. The total value of seized food products amounted to 1.38 crore rupees, with medicines valued at 4.02 lakh rupees also confiscated.

The Food Safety and Drugs Administration commissioner, Srinivas K, stated that the investigation at the Instamart facility is ongoing, with expired and mislabelled products valued at around 1 crore rupees under examination. The operation follows a previous crackdown on luxury hotels in Bengaluru, where officials found violations such as unhygienic storage and fungal growth on vegetables. The FDA’s Food Safety Wing had inspected 26 three-star and five-star hotels, seizing rotten meat, chicken, fish, and expired bakery products.

The FDA’s actions highlight ongoing concerns about food safety in Bengaluru, particularly in dark stores and storage facilities linked to online delivery platforms. While the inspections underscored the need for stricter compliance with labelling and storage regulations, the lack of company responses leaves questions about their awareness or preparedness for such enforcement actions. The department has not disclosed further steps or potential penalties for the violations uncovered during the inspections.

The evidence does not clarify the exact number of facilities inspected, the frequency of such operations, or the long-term impact of these seizures on consumer safety and market practices. Additionally, the role of regulatory bodies in preventing such violations and ensuring consistent enforcement remains unclear. As the FDA continues its investigations, the focus will likely remain on improving transparency and accountability in the food supply chain, particularly for businesses operating in the digital and e-commerce sectors.

The recent crackdown reflects a broader trend of increased scrutiny on food safety in Bengaluru, where rapid urbanization and the growth of online delivery platforms have raised concerns about regulatory oversight. While the FDA’s actions are a step toward addressing these issues, the absence of company responses and the limited details on enforcement mechanisms suggest that more comprehensive measures may be needed to ensure compliance and protect public health.