A video purportedly showing a rat inside an ice cream freezer at a Blinkit store in Kalyan has sparked outrage
A rat was allegedly spotted inside an ice cream freezer at a Blinkit store in Kalyan’s Godrej Hill area of Maharashtra’s Thane district, triggering fresh concerns over food safety and hygiene at quick-commerce outlets.
The incident reportedly came to light when a group of youngsters visited the store to buy ice cream. While looking through the freezer, they allegedly spotted a rat moving close to packaged food products. The group recorded videos of the incident, which subsequently circulated on social media and prompted calls for action against the outlet.
Rat in freezer sparks hygiene concerns
The reported incident has raised questions over how food products, particularly frozen and perishable items, are being stored at quick-commerce facilities.
It comes amid an intensified food safety crackdown by the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA), led by Food Safety Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe. The regulator has been inspecting warehouses and facilities operated by major quick-commerce companies across the state.
The Maharashtra FDA recently inspected 86 establishments involved in the storage, sale and delivery of food through online platforms. Officials issued 60 improvement notices and suspended the licences of 14 establishments linked to Blinkit, Zepto and Instamart.
Blinkit facilities already under FDA scanner
The latest incident follows several hygiene violations found at Blinkit-linked facilities during the ongoing inspections.
At a Blinkit-linked facility in Mumbai’s Ghatkopar area, inspectors reportedly found poor drainage and waste-disposal arrangements, problems with temperature control for frozen products, inadequate housekeeping and a cockroach infestation. The facility was classified as non-compliant after scoring 34 out of 74 in the inspection.
Another Blinkit-linked facility in Malad West faced suspension of its food licence after inspectors found multiple violations. These included a chiller operating at 6 degrees Celsius, which officials said was above the prescribed temperature, along with missing medical examination records for around 40 food handlers. Several workers were also reportedly found without gloves, aprons and headgear.
The latest rat sighting is therefore likely to intensify scrutiny of food storage and hygiene practices across quick-commerce outlets in Maharashtra, as regulators step up enforcement to protect consumers.
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