The race for speed and convenience is raising food safety concerns in India’s quick commerce sector, with experts calling for stricter enforcement and greater supplier accountability.
This was highlighted after the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspected Zepto’s Mumbai facility on 31 May, uncovering fungal growth in foods and products stored on wet filthy floors.
The findings have cast a spotlight on the food safety risks that may be overlooked in the pursuit of ultra-fast delivery by quick commerce platforms, which have rapidly transformed India’s retail landscape.
Zepto is one of several popular quick commerce platforms in India, alongside Swiggy Instamart, Blinkit, Flipkart, and Amazon.
In the face of fierce competition, services like Zepto’s 10-minute delivery promise have set the bar high.
However, consumers may be paying a hefty price for this convenience – through regulatory lapses and poor food safety standards.
Enforcement lapses and lack of maintenance by food businesses
The pressure to meet rapid delivery targets may lead some platforms to deprioritise food safety standards.
This is compounded by enforcement lapses by food authorities, according to Pradip Chakraborty, former director of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
“The main issue lies in the lack of proper enforcement and inspections. The rise in food safety problems is largely due to the poor quality of food being supplied via these platforms,” said Chakraborty, who continues to sit in selected advisory panels and discussions for the food authority’s policies.
“Before a licence is issued, food safety officers are supposed to inspect the premises, including checks on whether proper storage temperatures are maintained. If cold chain conditions are upheld, there should be no problem. But the reality is enforcement is weak,” he added.
“Furthermore, a 10-minute delivery window is too short. It should ideally be at least 20 minutes.”
He maintains that India’s food safety regulations are already well-defined and robust enough to handle the quick commerce model. The real issue lies in enforcement failures and inadequate inspections.
For example, while the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act mandates routine checks – especially for high-risk items like dairy and frozen foods – these audits are often not implemented as required, said Chakraborty.
Furthermore, while the food authorities are responsible regulatory enforcement, all stakeholders in the industry play a part in ensuring food safety.
Who should be accountable for food safety lapses?
Chakraborty emphasised that the suppliers – not delivery platforms – should be held accountable for poor-quality or unsafe food.
Under India’s FSS Act, responsibility for unsafe or expired food lies with wholesalers and distributors.
He added that while there is no need for an entirely new regulatory framework, platforms can approach FSSAI for modifications or corrections.
There is an “absolute need” for new guidelines specifically tailored for quick commerce to address the food safety gaps, said Ashwin Bhadri, Founder of Equinox Labs, which conducts regular testing of food and nutraceuticals for companies to meet their regulatory compliance.
“Quick commerce is evolving faster than our current regulations can keep up. While traditional food safety norms still apply, this model brings unique challenges, like minimal storage time, high rider turnover, and ad-hoc fulfilment centres,” said Bhadri.
“We need a hybrid framework that blends the rigour of retail compliance with the agility of real-time delivery. This isn’t about adding red tape; it’s about updating the rulebook to match the speed of innovation, without compromising public health.”
Bhadri also recommends that every food handler should be well-trained to ensure food safety compliance.
“Start with training – every handler, picker, and delivery rider must understand basic food hygiene. Then, ensure cold chain integrity, tamper-evident packaging, and traceability,” said Bhadri.
“Above all, embed a food safety culture, not just a checklist. If consumers can get groceries in 10 minutes, they deserve peace of mind just as fast.”
Bhadri emphasised that speed should never blind us to safety, and consumers must stay vigilant.
“Consumers must be aware that not every fast delivery means safe delivery, especially for perishables. Always check packaging integrity, temperature of the item on arrival, and how it’s stored en route.
“If something seems off, trust your instincts. Transparency from platforms is key, but so is vigilance from customers,” he said.
