In a major enforcement drive targeting online delivery platforms and quick-commerce dark stores, the Karnataka Department of Food Safety and Drug Administration seized expired and mislabelled food items worth ₹1.38 crore across Bengaluru and Bengaluru Rural districts. The coordinated inspections covered multiple distribution facilities, including Amazon supply units in Devanahalli and Anekal, a Swiggy Instamart facility in Hoskote, and local supply agencies in Lingarajapuram.
Health Minister U.T. Khader confirmed that the surprise drive was initiated following leads from an investigation into an unauthorized event in the city. Officials uncovered serious breaches of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, including forged expiry dates, re-stickering of expired products, unhygienic storage conditions, and the unlicensed storage of medicines worth ₹4.02 lakh.
At the Hoskote Swiggy Instamart facility alone, expired inventory valued at ₹42 lakh was confiscated, leading to the immediate sealing of the dark store. In Lingarajapuram, inspectors shut down Leo 7 Enterprises after discovering a network that bought expired goods from larger companies at heavy discounts to repack and sell them to local shops. State authorities announced that strict legal and criminal proceedings are being pursued against all non-compliant operators to protect public health.
