India’s food safety regulator, FSSAI, has sought a detailed explanation from quick-commerce platform Blinkit following multiple consumer complaints regarding the quality of eggs sold through the platform.
According to sources, the regulator has taken Suo motu cognizance of complaints circulating on social media, where consumers alleged that eggs purchased via Blinkit emitted a foul odour and had an unusual rubber-like texture.
FSSAI has reportedly written to Blink Commerce Pvt Ltd, directing the company to submit a comprehensive Action Taken Report (ATR) within one week regarding the complaints and the measures being taken to address them.
Sources said the regulator is closely examining the issue, noting that e-commerce and quick-commerce platforms are equally responsible for ensuring the safety and quality of food products sold through their marketplaces.
The development comes amid increasing regulatory scrutiny of online food retail platforms as India’s quick-commerce sector continues to expand rapidly.
In an advisory issued on December 3, 2024, FSSAI had emphasised that compliance by e-commerce food business operators is critical to maintaining the safety, quality, and authenticity of food products sold online.
The regulator had stated that all product claims displayed on e-commerce platforms must fully match the information provided on physical product labels. It also directed e-commerce food business operators to ensure that products listed on their platforms comply with the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020.
Further, FSSAI had instructed platforms not to onboard or list sellers without displaying a valid FSSAI license or registration number.
The latest move signals stricter monitoring of food quality standards in the fast-growing quick-commerce ecosystem, where concerns around perishables and supply chain handling are increasingly coming into focus.