Hyderabad food safety drive finds hygiene, storage lapses at 20 dark stores

Hyderabad, August 22: In a coordinated enforcement drive, ten teams from the TG SAFE Enforcement wing, comprising food safety officials and police personnel, conducted surprise inspections at 20 dark stores operated by leading quick-commerce platforms BigBasket, Blinkit, and Zepto in the Core Urban Region (CURE) area on Saturday.

The inspections, carried out on the instructions of the Commissioner of TG SAFE, uncovered multiple violations pertaining to hygiene and storage management. Officials also reported finding expired food articles at a few of the stores. Notices were issued to the stores found violating food safety norms, and food samples were collected and sent for laboratory examination.

Dark stores are micro-fulfilment centres that cater exclusively to online and quick-commerce orders. Unlike traditional retail outlets, these facilities are not open to the public and often operate from residential or commercial premises with high turnover of perishable goods. Their rapid proliferation in Hyderabad has prompted regulators to step up scrutiny to ensure compliance with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and related rules.

The action is part of a broader enforcement strategy by TG SAFE, the dedicated task force for food safety in Telangana, to verify that online food delivery and quick-commerce platforms maintain the same standards of hygiene, storage, and labelling as conventional food businesses. The presence of police personnel during the checks underscores the seriousness of the exercise, which also aims to deter wilful negligence that could compromise public health.

Officials said that further action, including potential penalties or prosecution, would be initiated based on the findings of the inspections and the results of the sample tests. They reiterated that consumer safety remains the top priority and that repeat offenders would face stricter consequences under the law.

The inspections reflect a growing regulatory focus on the hidden infrastructure of e-commerce food supply chains, where lapses in cold chain maintenance, stock rotation, and cleanliness can have direct implications for consumers who rely on doorstep delivery. Residents in the CURE area, which encompasses the central and densely populated parts of Hyderabad, have welcomed the move, while industry stakeholders have been urged to self-audit and rectify any deficiencies immediately.

Authorities have not disclosed the specific names of the stores where expired items were found, but confirmed that all 20 units were checked and that standard procedures were followed. Further details are expected once laboratory reports are received.