Crusading India state food safety chief targets Eternal, Swiggy, Zepto in sweeping crackdown

Maharashtra’s food safety chief has escalated a crackdown on India’s food and grocery supply chain, suspending permits of 12 warehouses tied to Eternal, Swiggy and Zepto after inspectors found cockroach infestations and other hygiene problems. The raids target “quick commerce,” where orders are delivered within minutes, and follow earlier action by Tukaram Mundhe, 51, who shut several Mumbai eateries for poor hygiene. Reuters reports the state FDA inspected 86 establishments, issued 60 improvement notices, and suspended permits for multiple Blinkit, Zepto and Instamart warehouses. Swiggy and Eternal declined to comment; Zepto didn’t respond. Mundhe warned of tougher measures for unsafe preparation and storage.