Bengaluru: Karnataka’s Food Safety and Drugs Administration has seized expired and improperly labelled food products worth ₹1.38 crore during a special enforcement drive across Bengaluru and nearby areas. Medicines worth another ₹4.02 lakh were also confiscated for allegedly being stored without the required licences.
The inspections focused particularly on food storage and supply facilities linked to online and e-commerce platforms. Officials checked mandatory labelling, manufacturing and expiry dates, shelf life and other food safety requirements. The operation was carried out under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and related rules, along with provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
At an Amazon storage facility in Devanahalli, officials seized food products worth ₹14 lakh for alleged incorrect or inadequate labelling and another ₹10 lakh worth of expired food. Medicines valued at ₹2.45 lakh were also seized over alleged licensing violations.
Another Amazon facility in Anekal faced similar action. Officials seized improperly labelled food products worth ₹19 lakh and expired products worth ₹13 lakh. Medicines worth ₹1.57 lakh were also confiscated for being stored without the necessary licence.
A Swiggy Instamart facility in Hoskote in Bengaluru Rural district was also inspected. Officials seized expired food products worth ₹42 lakh and closed the facility after reportedly finding unhygienic conditions and violations of food safety rules. The department said its investigation was continuing, with expired and mislabelled products estimated at around ₹1 crore being identified during the probe.
The enforcement drive also reached local retailers. At Saptha Bazaar in HBR Layout, officials acted on a complaint alleging that grocery items and other food products sourced from online delivery platforms were being resold after expiry. Expired cashew biscuits, ragi flour, chicken patties, paneer, cookies, nuts, eggs and flour were among the products seized.
At another establishment in Lingarajapuram, officials found expired and near-expiry nutritional products, beverages, chocolates, sweets, ghee, nuts and seeds. The premises was subsequently subjected to enforcement action.
According to the department’s consolidated figures, ₹33 lakh worth of food products were seized for incorrect or inadequate labelling, while expired or near-expiry food accounted for ₹1.05 crore. Including the medicines seized separately, the overall value of confiscated products stood at around ₹1.43 crore.
Further investigation and legal proceedings are underway.
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