India's apex food regulator demands answers from Swiggy Instamart

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India officials issued nine stern notices to quick-commerce giant Swiggy Instamart following severe consumer complaints regarding contaminated and expired deliveries. Buyers across multiple cities reported receiving rotten items, pushing regulators to demand an immediate compliance report under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

Urban centers across India, including rapidly growing tier-two markets like Bhubaneswar, are increasingly relying on ten-minute delivery platforms for daily groceries. This rapid digital shift makes strict regulatory oversight absolutely essential for protecting long-term public health.

Rotten Eggs and Contaminated Formula

Multiple worried users complained about receiving highly unsafe items through the popular application. Regulators highlighted several specific instances, including deteriorated infant formula that was shockingly redelivered to a buyer even after they safely returned the initial defective batch. Other flagged products included foul-smelling "Akshayakalpa Organic Eggs" and expired "Healthify 100% Whey Protein."

Another brand, "NOICE Eggs," allegedly sold grocery items completely outside its officially approved licensing categories. Customers also reported receiving heavily spoiled ready-to-eat parathas and damaged milk packets during regular morning orders.

Shoppers expressed intense frustration over the platform’s unresponsive customer support system. When users escalated their food safety concerns, the platform allegedly failed to take meaningful corrective action, sometimes offering mere refunds without addressing the actual biological hazard. Investigators also discovered incorrect or non-existent registration numbers tied to several vendors operating on the active network.

Strict Directives Issued

Government officials have now firmly instructed the delivery network to submit documented proof of their inventory management, daily stock rotation policies, and internal hygiene protocols. Authorities now want a highly detailed root cause analysis explaining exactly how these dangerous lapses occurred. If Swiggy Instamart fails to provide an adequate explanation within the mandated timeframe, they will face harsh legal consequences under existing federal food regulations.