Food Safety Department Issues Notices to 16 E-Commerce Warehouses and Stores in Greater Noida

Noida: The Food Safety Department has intensified inspections of online grocery warehouses and stores in Greater Noida ahead of Diwali, warning businesses against compromising food safety and hygiene. During a two-day special drive, officials inspected 18 e-commerce facilities and issued notices to 16 after identifying deficiencies in cleanliness, documentation and other required arrangements.

The establishments have been directed to rectify the shortcomings within 15 days. Officials warned that continued non-compliance could lead to the cancellation of their licences.

Which Establishments Faced Action During the Drive?

The campaign was conducted under the leadership of Assistant Commissioner of Food-2 Sarvesh Mishra. Inspections covered BigBasket and Blinkit warehouses in Ecotech-3, Zomato Hypermart and several Blinkit stores. Officials also checked Swiggy and Zomato Hypermart facilities in Dadri.

A Zep​​to store in Sector 135, Noida, faced immediate action after inspectors found dirt and disorder in its cold room. Its operations were stopped, and the facility will be allowed to resume only after the required improvements are completed.

Food Samples Sent for Laboratory Testing

As part of the inspections, food safety officials collected samples of paneer from Zomato Hypermart, peanuts from a store in Surajpur, and sesame oil from PJTJ Technology Private Limited. The samples have been sent for testing to assess their quality and safety.

Missing Records Raise Compliance Concerns

Inspectors also found that several establishments, including JioMart, KV Enterprises, an Amazon store, a Swiggy store and Zepto dark stores, could not produce essential documents during the visits.

The missing records included workers’ health certificates, pest-control reports and standard operating procedures for removing expired food products. These requirements are important for maintaining hygienic storage conditions and ensuring that food items are handled appropriately.

The department has reiterated that food businesses must comply with safety and hygiene standards, particularly during the festive season, when demand for online grocery deliveries rises. Officials said deficiencies must be addressed within the stipulated period to avoid further regulatory action.