New Delhi: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued nine notices to Swiggy Instamart following multiple consumer complaints alleging the delivery of expired, spoiled and contaminated food products through the quick-commerce platform. The regulator has sought a detailed explanation from the company on the alleged violations and the steps taken to prevent such incidents.
According to the FSSAI, the complaints involved products such as expired whey protein, rotten eggs, spoiled ready-to-eat food, contaminated infant formula, damaged packaged food items and milk. The regulator said the complaints also raised concerns over food safety compliance and the company’s grievance redressal mechanism, reported HT.
Among the products flagged were “Healthify 100% Whey Protein 1 kg” and “Noice Homestyle Madras Mixture with Peanuts”, which were allegedly supplied after their expiry dates. Complaints also claimed that “Akshayakalpa Organic Egg” was delivered in a rotten condition with a foul odour and signs of contamination, while a ready-to-eat paratha was reportedly spoiled and unfit for consumption. The regulator further noted allegations that contaminated infant formula was re-supplied even after the defective product had been returned.
The FSSAI also pointed to alleged irregularities in product licensing, stating that one complaint involved “NOICE” eggs being marketed under a brand category not covered by the existing FSSAI licence. It directed the food business operator to stop marketing the product unless it is covered under a valid licence and, if required, apply for a licence modification. The notices additionally flagged allegedly incorrect, invalid or non-existent FSSAI licence numbers and discrepancies in the names under which certain food business entities were listed.
The regulator said some consumers alleged that they were offered refunds but did not receive satisfactory corrective action to address the reported food safety issues. FSSAI has asked Swiggy Instamart to submit documentary evidence explaining the alleged non-compliances, along with details of its quality assurance systems, inventory management, stock rotation practices, hygiene and storage standards, corrective and preventive actions, root cause analyses and measures to strengthen consumer grievance redressal.
The development comes days after Swiggy disclosed in a regulatory filing that it had received a separate prohibition order from the FSSAI concerning its food ordering platform. The company had said that matter was related only to the updation of licence particulars, involved no food safety concerns and had since been resolved.
