Food safety officials in Maharashtra conducted a series of inspections on Thursday targeting 86 establishments involved in the storage and delivery of food products for major quick-commerce platforms. The operation, aimed at ensuring compliance with health and safety standards, resulted in the suspension of licenses for several facilities operated by Blinkit, Zepto, and Swiggy Instamart.

During the inspections, officials reported finding unsanitary conditions, specifically citing the presence of pests such as cockroaches and lizards within the storage areas. These facilities, often referred to as 'dark stores,' serve as the primary hubs for rapid delivery services. The suspension of these licenses effectively halts operations at the affected locations until the companies can demonstrate that they have addressed the hygiene concerns and met mandatory food safety regulations.

While the state government has emphasized the necessity of these inspections to protect consumer health, the quick-commerce companies have yet to issue detailed public responses regarding the specific facilities impacted or their timelines for remediation. The crackdown highlights growing regulatory scrutiny over the rapid expansion of online grocery delivery services and the conditions under which food items are stored before reaching customers.