Days after reports surfaced that a food safety raid at Zomato’s Hyperpure warehouse in Hyderabad allegedly uncovered 90 packets of button mushrooms marked with a “future packing date,” co-founder and CEO Deepinder Goyal clarified that this was due to a vendor error.
In a post on X, Goyal confirmed that the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) team found 90 packets of button mushrooms with incorrect packaging dates. However, he stressed that these items had already been identified and rejected by Zomato’s warehouse team during their quality control inspections.
Goyal explained that the incorrect packing date was the result of a manual typing mistake by the vendor, who has since been removed from Zomato’s database.
He reiterated Zomato’s dedication to food safety, stating, “We are committed to maintaining industry food safety standards and prioritize product quality at every stage of the supply chain. The recent food safety inspection at our Hyderabad warehouse led to the Hyperpure warehouse receiving an A+ rating, the highest benchmark in their evaluation.”
Earlier in October, the Commissioner of Food Safety in Telangana posted on X that its task force conducted inspections at Zomato’s Hyperpure Private Limited in Kukatpally, Hyderabad, on October 29.
Authorities found 18 kilograms of button mushrooms marked with a packing date of October 30, 2024, which constitutes a breach of food safety regulations. Additionally, the post noted the presence of houseflies throughout the premises due to a lack of insect-proof screens, and some food handlers were observed without proper hygiene equipment, such as hair nets and aprons.
It is important to highlight that the warehouse is classified as a Food Business Operator (FBO), providing various food products to hotels and restaurants.
Despite holding valid licenses and medical fitness certificates for food handlers, these incidents raise questions about Zomato’s adherence to food safety standards.
This incident follows a June report that highlighted safety violations at another Zomato-owned facility, Blinkit, located in the Devar Yamjal region of the Medchal Malkajgiri district.
The Telangana food safety department reported that it had seized edible items valued at INR 82,000 from the premises for either not meeting food safety regulations or having expired licenses.
These hygiene concerns emerge amid increased scrutiny of food safety practices in India, particularly as health complaints typically rise during festive periods like Diwali.
At 12 PM on the BSE, Zomato shares were trading 3.2% lower at INR 240.90.