The All India Consumer Products Distributors Federation (AICPDF) has called on FSSAI and the Union Health Ministry to establish a uniform regulatory framework for quick-commerce dark stores, citing food-safety and hygiene violations uncovered during a recent inspection drive across Maharashtra. The federation's demand follows a sweep by the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that flagged systemic lapses at facilities operated by Blinkit, Zepto, and Swiggy Instamart.

What the Maharashtra FDA Inspections Found

Authorities inspected 86 establishments involved in online food storage and delivery across the state. The regulator suspended 14 food-business licences linked to Blinkit, Zepto, and Swiggy Instamart after inspectors found deficiencies in food storage, temperature control, cleanliness, pest management, worker hygiene, and food handling practices.

The scale of suspensions — 14 out of 86 inspected facilities — points to what the federation describes as a sector-wide compliance gap rather than isolated incidents.

Incidents That Triggered the Push

The AICPDF cited two specific incidents to illustrate the risks. A video that went viral allegedly showed a live rat inside an ice-cream storage crate at a Blinkit outlet in Kalyan's Godrej Hill area. The federation said the footage raises questions about pest control, sanitation, stock inspection, and preventive food-safety systems at dark stores.

Separately, reports emerged of expired food products being found at a Zepto outlet in Pune. Both incidents, according to the federation, reflect the consequences of rapid scaling without commensurate safety infrastructure.

What the Federation Has Proposed

AICPDF National President Dhairyashil H. Patil said the burden of food safety should not fall on consumers. 'Consumers should not have to become food inspectors checking dates, packaging and storage conditions,' he said.

Among the federation's proposals is a scientific SKU-to-space framework — a model under which minimum storage area would be directly linked to the number of stock-keeping units a facility handles. The body has urged FSSAI to evaluate and standardise such norms across the sector.

The broader proposed framework covers adequate storage space, segregation of food categories, dedicated areas for damaged and expired products, cold-chain compliance, pest control protocols, and mandatory periodic audits alongside surprise inspections.

The Regulatory Gap in Quick Commerce

Quick-commerce platforms have expanded rapidly across Indian cities, promising deliveries within 10 minutes. Critics argue that the regulatory architecture governing these dark stores has not kept pace with the sector's growth. Traditional retail channels operate under well-established FSSAI standards; the federation contends that the same rules must apply uniformly to digital-first operators.

'Quick commerce may promise delivery in 10 minutes, but food safety cannot operate on a 10-minute business model,' Patil said.

The AICPDF clarified that it supports the growth of quick commerce but insists on a level regulatory playing field. With FSSAI and the Union Health Ministry now formally approached, the sector awaits a response that could reshape how dark stores are licensed and monitored across India.