Authorities in Karnataka recently conducted a special enforcement operation, leading to the confiscation of expired and mislabelled food products valued at Rs 1.38 crore from various locations in Bengaluru, including Amazon and Swiggy Instamart facilities. In addition, medicines worth Rs 4.02 lakh were reportedly seized during these inspections, according to officials from the Karnataka Food Safety and Drugs Administration.

The inspections were carried out at multiple facilities, including Amazon’s sites in Devanahalli and Anekal, as well as a Swiggy Instamart outlet in Hoskote. The enforcement action was triggered by certain documents linked to a local event known as a “peptide party.” Officials used this information to check compliance with mandatory labelling, manufacturing and expiry dates, shelf life, and food safety standards.

Across the two Amazon locations, officials uncovered food products with various violations, leading to the total seizure worth Rs 56 lakh. These include instances of inadequate labelling and expired items. Specifically, the Devanahalli facility had Rs 24 lakh worth of seized products, while the Anekal facility accounted for Rs 32 lakh in seizures.

Conditions in Swiggy Instamart and Other Facilities

At the Swiggy Instamart facility in Hoskote, inspectors identified expired food products amounting to Rs 42 lakh and closed the site due to unhygienic conditions, alongside violations of the Food Safety and Standards Act. Preliminary findings indicated that expired and mislabelled products worth approximately Rs 1 crore were detected, with investigations ongoing.

In a separate operation at Saptha Bazaar in HBR Layout, officials responded to a complaint suggesting that the establishment was purchasing and reselling expired grocery items and other food products. During inspections, expired goods such as cashew biscuits, chicken patties, and various other food items valued at around Rs 10,000 were confiscated to protect public health.

Further inspections revealed that a local retailer, Leo 7 Enterprises in Lingarajapuram, stored expired or near-expiry food products, including ghee and nutritional items. The owner claimed that products valued at Rs 56 lakh were stored on the premises, which was subsequently seized by authorities.

Overall Enforcement Drive and Implications

The combined total of improperly labelled and expired food products seized during these inspections reached Rs 1.38 crore. Additionally, medicines valued at Rs 4.02 lakh also contributed to a comprehensive seizure total of Rs 1.43 crore. These actions form part of a broader initiative aimed at improving food safety across Bengaluru.

Officials have extended their inspections to encompass restaurants, hotels, clubs, warehouses, and food distribution centres throughout the city. They have also examined supply units that distribute to major hotels, issuing notices to establishments found to be in violation, emphasising the potential for further actions under food safety regulations.

This series of inspections underscores a persistent commitment to ensuring that food products distributed within the state meet necessary safety standards and fulfil legal requirements. Continued scrutiny appears essential for maintaining public health and safety in food consumption across Karnataka.

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