Hyderabad food safety crackdown: four Swiggy, Flipkart, Zepto dark stores lose FSSAI licences
The Telangana food safety authorities have suspended the licences of four quick-commerce "dark stores" in Hyderabad and directed them to stop business operations immediately, after inspections found expired and damaged food products, unhygienic premises and pest infestation.
The premises are dark stores — small warehouses used only to pack and dispatch online grocery and food orders rather than to serve walk-in customers. They were among 16 such facilities inspected across the city on Wednesday by the Telangana Standards Authority for Food and Essential Drugs (TG SAFE).
The 16 dark stores are operated by Kwickbox Retail Private Limited, which runs stores for Swiggy Instamart; Instakart Services Private Limited, which runs Flipkart's dark stores; Zepto Private Limited; and Dropx Logistics, according to the findings made public after the inspections.
The four establishments whose FSSAI licences were suspended are a Swiggy Instamart store at Petbasheerbad, a Flipkart store near Charminar, a Zepto store in Koti, and another Swiggy Instamart store at Saidabad.
Among the violations listed by officials were unhygienic premises, damaged and expired food articles, improper handling and storage of food, spoiled vegetables with fungal infestation, breaches of FSSAI labelling and display regulations, cockroach and pest infestation, and improper maintenance of cold-room temperatures.
TG SAFE officials also lifted 15 food samples on suspicion of adulteration. The test results will determine whether further action, including prosecution, is warranted.
Three establishments will be issued improvement notices and will be re-inspected to verify compliance. Five others will receive show-cause notices, after which officials said further action, including penalties, would be initiated.
What the law requires
Under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, every food business — including warehouses and distribution centres that handle food — must hold a valid licence or registration, maintain prescribed hygiene and storage standards, and follow labelling and display norms. State food safety authorities are empowered to inspect premises, lift samples, issue improvement or show-cause notices, suspend licences and recommend penalties. A suspension halts operations and is not by itself a final finding of guilt; licence holders can seek redressal through the procedures laid down under the Act.
Why dark stores matter
Dark stores have become the backbone of India's quick-commerce sector, in which groceries and everyday food items are delivered within minutes. Because customers never enter these premises, conditions inside are largely invisible to buyers, which makes regulatory inspection the principal check on hygiene, storage and cold-chain practices. Wednesday's sweep of 16 facilities indicates that state officials are treating these warehouses as a priority for food safety enforcement.
What it means for consumers
The four suspended outlets must halt operations until the matter is resolved, and the remaining establishments face follow-up checks or explanation requirements. Consumers who have purchased food from such stores and have concerns can register complaints through the FSSAI's grievance channels or with the state food safety department, which is required to examine them.
Food safety officials said the inspections would continue, and that compliance would be verified at premises issued improvement notices before they are allowed to function normally.
