Maharashtra FDA Suspends Licenses of Five Food Facilities Linked to Reliance and Zomato
The Maharashtra FDA has taken action against five food establishments, including those linked to Reliance and Zomato, for allegedly selling expired food products.
Five food facilities, including Reliance and Zomato, had their licenses suspended due to expired food allegations.
An investigation revealed a network diverting expired goods back into the retail market.
Authorities seized over 6,000 kg of expired food products valued at approximately Rs 48.09 lakh.
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the licenses of five food-related establishments associated with Reliance Consumer Products, Reliance Retail, Zomato Hyperpure, and Blinkit. This action follows an investigation that uncovered a scheme involving the diversion of expired and damaged food items back into the retail market. The licenses were suspended on October 15, 2026, after the FDA's operations in Thane and Pune revealed serious violations.
The investigation led to the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) at the Shanti Nagar Police Station in Thane. It identified a network comprising corporate warehouses, disposal agencies, unlicensed sorting yards, and local retailers. Ten individuals linked to these companies have been named as accused in this case, which is being investigated under the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006 and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita of 2023.
Food Safety Officer Pravin Balasaheb Shinde filed a complaint stating that expired and rejected food products, which were supposed to be destroyed, were allegedly handed over to disposal agencies without proper verification. Investigators suspect that these products were diverted to unlicensed facilities and sold through retail channels, raising serious health concerns for consumers.
The FDA's actions included the seizure of significant quantities of expired food products. From the Reliance Consumer Products facility in Vadpe, authorities confiscated over 6,073 kg of stock valued at Rs 4.91 lakh. Additionally, 1,590 kg of expired food worth approximately Rs 7.81 lakh was seized from the Zomato Hyperpure facility. The total value of the seized products across all facilities was reported to be around Rs 48.09 lakh, highlighting the scale of the operation.
The investigation is ongoing, with disposal agencies such as S.K. Traders and Green Earth Waste Management under scrutiny for their roles in the alleged diversion of expired goods. Raids have been conducted at suspected locations, and the implications of these findings could lead to further regulatory actions and heightened scrutiny of food safety practices in Maharashtra.
