Maharashtra Govt To Launch Toll-Free Helpline For Complaints Against Food E-Commerce Platforms Amid Hygiene Violations
Maharashtra Govt To Launch Toll-Free Helpline For Complaints Against Food E-Commerce Platforms Amid Hygiene Violations
The Maharashtra government is set to launch toll-free helpline numbers for consumers to lodge complaints against popular food e-commerce platforms such as Swiggy, Zomato, Zepto, and others. This initiative follows a series of statewide inspections revealing serious violations in food storage and hygiene standards.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Minister Narhari Zirwal made the announcement on Tuesday, July 1, during a session of the Maharashtra Legislative Council. He informed the House that inspections were carried out at 43 e-commerce establishments and warehouses, many of which were found storing expired food items and operating under unhygienic conditions.
As a result of these findings, the FDA issued notices to 34 establishments, ordered the closure of five units, and suspended one licence.
Zirwal added that the department has intensified its inspections of food e-commerce warehouses across the state.
One notable incident took place on May 31 when the FDA raided a Zepto dark store in Dharavi, Mumbai. The store was found to be maintaining poor hygiene and storing expired products. The FDA suspended its licence, which was later reinstated after Zepto submitted a compliance report and a reinspection was conducted.
Zirwal clarified that while food aggregators operate under central licences, the state government is responsible for licensing their warehouses. With increased scrutiny underway, the new toll-free numbers will empower consumers to directly report any violations, ensuring stricter oversight of food safety in the e-commerce sector.
