India’s food safety regulator has intensified its scrutiny of the quick commerce sector, issuing nine notices to Swiggy Instamart over alleged violations of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 after receiving multiple consumer complaints relating to unsafe food products.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has directed the platform to submit a comprehensive explanation supported by documentary evidence detailing the alleged non-compliances, the circumstances surrounding the reported incidents and the corrective measures taken to prevent future occurrences.
According to the notices, the complaints include allegations that Swiggy Instamart supplied expired, spoiled, rotten, contaminated and otherwise unsafe food products, raising concerns over food quality, storage practices, inventory management and seller compliance.
Among the products flagged by the regulator were expired whey protein supplements, contaminated and rotten eggs, spoiled ready-to-eat food, damaged packaged products, and milk products allegedly delivered in unsafe condition.
The FSSAI also raised concerns regarding NOICE Eggs, alleging that the product was marketed under categories not covered by the existing FSSAI licence. The regulator noted that the company had previously been advised to stop selling the product until the licence was appropriately modified.
Other observations cited by the regulator include the delivery of expired Healthify 100% Whey Protein, expired Noice Homestyle Madras Mixture, rotten Akshayakalpa Organic Eggs emitting a foul odour, and a spoiled Kakke da Paratha, all of which were deemed unfit for human consumption.
In another serious observation, the regulator alleged that an infant food formulation was found in a deteriorated condition with signs of contamination and improper storage. The notice further claimed that the same product was re-supplied to the consumer after the defective item had been returned.
Beyond product quality, FSSAI highlighted alleged gaps in seller onboarding, licence verification, traceability, food quality monitoring, consumer grievance redressal and overall food safety compliance systems. The regulator also pointed to instances of incorrect or invalid FSSAI licence numbers and food businesses being listed under names that did not match their registered licences.
The authority has asked Swiggy Instamart to submit detailed information on its quality assurance protocols, inventory management, stock rotation practices, hygiene standards, storage conditions, food safety monitoring systems, root cause analysis, corrective and preventive actions (CAPA), and consumer grievance handling mechanisms.
The regulator warned that failure to provide a satisfactory compliance report within the stipulated timeframe could invite legal action under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
Responding to the notices, a Swiggy Instamart spokesperson said the company is reviewing the products flagged by the regulator and is working closely with the authorities to resolve the issues.
The action marks another significant step in FSSAI’s ongoing enforcement drive in 2026, as the regulator tightens oversight of digital food retail and quick commerce platforms amid rising consumer expectations around food safety, traceability and regulatory compliance.