Blinkit store in Gandhinagar shut; food licence suspended over hygiene violations

Gandhinagar: The Food Safety Department of the Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation (GMC) has suspended the food licence of a Blinkit store in Raysan and halted its operations after an inspection found serious sanitation and hygiene lapses.

The action followed a complaint received by the civic body. A food safety team inspected the store on the ground floor of the Texas 3 building in Raysan under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

During the inspection, officials found cobwebs and accumulated dirt on the walls, poor storage arrangements and food items kept on dirty racks. The conditions were found to be in violation of hygiene requirements under Schedule 4 of the food safety regulations.

The department subsequently issued an improvement notice and suspended the store’s food licence, directing the operator to rectify the deficiencies within the stipulated period. The store will be allowed to resume operations only after the required improvements are completed and the necessary documents are submitted.

According to V. D. Rana, Deputy Commissioner of the State FSSAI department, this is the first instance in Gujarat of a quick-commerce/e-commerce food outlet having its licence suspended and operations stopped over such violations. He said an improvement notice had previously been issued in a case in Bharuch, but the licence was not suspended.

The company has been given 14 days to comply with the requirements. Failure to make the necessary improvements could lead to further action, including permanent cancellation of the licence.

34 food samples collected from 14 hostel canteens

The GMC Food Safety Department also inspected 14 hostel canteens in Gandhinagar, including facilities at the National Institute of Design (NID) and the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), as part of a wider drive to check hygiene standards in hostel kitchens.

The team collected 34 food samples from various locations for laboratory testing. An improvement notice was also issued to Youth Hostel Geeta Residency after unhygienic conditions were found during the inspection. Further action will be taken based on the laboratory test reports.

The civic body has directed food business operators and hostel and canteen managers to ensure that kitchen staff wear caps, aprons and gloves. They have also been instructed not to use artificial colours in prepared food, serve food on newspapers or store perishable items without maintaining appropriate temperatures.

The GMC said inspections will continue as part of its drive to ensure food safety and hygiene standards across the city. DeshGujarat