Rat in Blinkit freezer, spoiled KFC chicken: Food safety norms flouted across India, regulators crack whip

Across India, food regulatory bodies have initiated a comprehensive crackdown targeting rampant food safety violations. This widespread enforcement action has brought numerous establishments, ranging from popular chain restaurants to upscale hotels, under intense scrutiny due to serious concerns regarding their food quality and hygiene standards. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the apex regulatory body, has adopted a stringent stance against companies engaging in product mislabeling, outright prohibiting the sale of such non-compliant items.

Recent incidents have highlighted the pressing need for these interventions. A particularly alarming case involved the discovery of a rat in an ice cream freezer at a Blinkit quick commerce outlet in Thane, Maharashtra. Concurrently, in Mangalore, a customer reported receiving chicken from KFC that emitted a “foul smell,” leading to immediate investigations.

The scope of this crackdown is extensive, encompassing a diverse array of businesses. Consumer goods giant Dabur, the iconic alcohol brand Old Monk, and quick commerce delivery platforms such as Zepto, Blinkit, and Instamart are currently under intense scrutiny. Furthermore, a multitude of prominent restaurant chains, including KFC, Pizza Hut, McDonald’s, Subway, Burger King, Starbucks, and Monginis, have undergone inspections for alleged breaches of food safety regulations.

Adding a layer of celebrity involvement to the issue, even Bollywood stars have faced consequences. The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued show-cause notices to Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn, and Tiger Shroff concerning an advertisement for a pan masala company, demanding an explanation for their endorsement within 15 days.

The state of Karnataka has been particularly active in enforcing food safety. A KFC outlet in Mangaluru was subjected to a surprise raid following a customer’s complaint of receiving “spoiled” and “foul-smelling” chicken. The outlet’s go-down was subsequently sealed after inspections of its kitchen, storeroom, and cold storage revealed deficiencies, with food samples dispatched for laboratory analysis.

In a separate action, raids on premium hotels in Mysuru by the Food Safety Department uncovered significant quantities of expired meat. A staggering 9 kg of expired chicken was confiscated from the 3-star Rio Meridian Hotel, 68 kg of meat from the Grand Mercure Hotel, and 4 kg of expired mushrooms from the 3-star Q Star Hotel. Further investigations in Bengaluru revealed multiple food safety violations in luxury hotels, including unhygienic storage conditions, fungal growth on vegetables, and inadequate segregation of vegetarian and non-vegetarian food items. Raids on 26 hotels in Bengaluru, including both three-star and five-star establishments, resulted in the seizure of rotten meat, chicken, fish, and expired bakery products by the department’s Food Safety Wing.

Maharashtra’s FDA has also been exceptionally proactive. The aforementioned Blinkit store in Thane’s Kalyan area drew significant attention after a video surfaced showing rats inside an ice cream freezer. This prompted further action, with the Maharashtra FDA conducting a special drive that inspected 104 chain restaurant establishments. As a result, two establishments were ordered to cease operations, 95 received improvement notices, and the licenses of five establishments were suspended.

The food safety department in Maharashtra took decisive action against pizza outlets, including a Pizza Hut store, for selling products without clearly indicating expiry dates. Additionally, an outlet of Sapphire Foods India in Akola district faced penalties for utilizing frozen paneer and substandard food items. In Nashik and Mumbai, the FDA suspended 11 food business licenses due to identified violations related to hygiene, storage, water quality, ventilation, equipment maintenance, and pest control. They also issued 54 improvement notices following inspections of 120 establishments. Raids at 12 locations led to the seizure of 5,343 kg of substandard dairy products, oil, and spices valued at ₹9.81 lakh. Separate operations targeting banned products resulted in 15 arrests, the sealing of nine establishments, and the seizure of goods worth ₹25.96 lakh.

The FSSAI’s crackdown extends to product labeling and composition. The regulatory authority has reportedly barred consumer goods company Dabur India from selling products like ghee and honey that carry unverifiable “100%” claims. Furthermore, notices have been issued to several alcoholic beverage manufacturers concerning flavouring violations. On August 2nd, the FSSAI released a statement imposing restrictions on the sale of certain whisky and rum variants, including popular brands such as Old Monk, Royal Challenge, Antiquity Blue, and Bagpiper. The regulator alleged that these companies were using artificial flavors to replicate the drink’s natural profile instead of adhering to standard aging processes and utilizing the necessary ingredients to develop authentic taste and aroma.