Patna: The Bihar Food Safety Department has restricted the sale of food products worth approximately ₹2.14 crore at a Blinkit warehouse in Patna following inspections conducted to check food quality, hygiene and storage practices.
The inspections were carried out on the directions of Food Safety Commissioner Kumar Ravi, a 2005-batch IAS officer of the Bihar cadre, at several food establishments, including Blinkit facilities, Aditya 9 to 9 supermarkets and YOY China Restaurant. The department reported irregularities involving storage practices, sanitation, expired products and food safety documentation.
Establishments found violating prescribed standards were issued notices directing them to correct the deficiencies within 14 days. Expired and damaged food products were also destroyed during the inspections.
₹2.13 Crore Worth of Food Products Restricted at Blinkit Warehouse
During an inspection of the Blinkit warehouse at Nasirpur, Tajpur, Bypass Road, Patna, officials restricted the sale of food products valued at ₹2,13,99,535, according to the department.
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The action covered:
- Whole Farm brand: Distribution of 25 tonnes of food products across 276 varieties was restricted.
- Basic brand: Sale of 3,102 kg of assorted pulses and 190 kg of nuts was restricted.
The total value of the affected stock was estimated at approximately ₹2.14 crore.
Expired and Damaged Food Products Destroyed
At the 9 to 9 establishment in S.K. Nagar, Patna, inspectors found expired and damaged food products stored together. The products were destroyed in the presence of the establishment’s operator to prevent their resale.
The destroyed stock included:
- 12 kg of sattu
- 24 kg of semolina
- 12 kg of gram flour
- 49 kg of wheat flour
- 49 kg of refined flour
- 6 kg of spices
The total estimated value of these products was ₹14,740.
At Blinkit Store 166 in Anandpuri, Patna, officials also arranged for the destruction of approximately 190 kg of food products, including 162 kg of coconut powder, 15 kg of motichoor laddus and 13 kg of wheat flour. Their estimated value was around ₹16,000.
Expired Milk Found at Blinkit Store; Six Samples Sent for Testing
An inspection at Blinkit Commerce Private Limited’s store in Indrapuri, Patna, revealed 49.5 litres of expired Amul milk.
Officials also collected six samples of rice, ghee, semolina, mixed pickle, Glucon-D and sugar and sent them to a food laboratory for testing.
The inspection identified several shortcomings in the store’s food handling and hygiene practices, including:
- Non-compliance with the First In, First Out (FIFO) method of stock rotation.
- An unhygienic environment on the premises.
- Inadequate sanitisation arrangements.
- Unsatisfactory conditions of the deep freezer.
The establishment was issued a 14-day improvement notice to address the deficiencies.
At another Blinkit store in Anandpuri, inspectors found dust and dirt on storage racks. Vegetarian and non-vegetarian food products were also stored together in the frozen room. A separate improvement notice was issued to the establishment.
Aditya 9 to 9 and Blinkit Facilities Receive Notices
Inspections at other establishments in Patna revealed further shortcomings related to food safety and documentation.
At Aditya 9 to 9 supermarket in Kankarbagh, officials collected a sample of sabudana. They also found that pest-control arrangements were absent, employee health certificates were unavailable, and edible and non-edible items were stored together. The establishment received an improvement notice.
At Blink Commerce Private Limited’s facility in Sadikpur, Lohia Path, inspectors collected a turmeric sample. Food and non-food items were stored in the same location, while the food licence number mentioned on an invoice was found to belong to another store.
The department issued a 14-day improvement notice to the establishment in view of these irregularities.
YOY China Restaurant and Supermarket Inspected
Food safety officials inspected Aditya 9 to 9 supermarket and YOY China Restaurant at Ramnagari Mor, Ashiana Road, Patna, on October 22.
The inspection identified shortcomings relating to food quality, storage, hygiene and licensing. Expired or otherwise unsafe food products were destroyed in the presence of the operators and with their consent.
The products included:
- 500 grams of expired chicken seasoning powder
- 2.5 kg of monosodium glutamate (MSG)
- 3.4 kg of sweet corn
- 5 kg of insect-infested refined flour
- 12 kg of noodles, as recorded in the destruction report
The department stated that the items were discarded in dustbins to prevent their reuse or sale.
Restaurant Kitchen Found Below Prescribed Hygiene Standards
At YOY China Restaurant, inspectors found an uncovered drain and a kitchen that did not meet prescribed hygiene and sanitation standards. MSG was also found at the establishment and destroyed.
The food safety officer directed the restaurant to maintain regular kitchen cleaning, keep the drain covered and follow prescribed standards for sanitation, food storage and handling.
Separate Food Licences Directed for Supermarket and Restaurant
Officials found that Aditya 9 to 9 supermarket and YOY China Restaurant were operating under a single food safety licence, despite being located on different floors of the building.
The supermarket was operating on the ground floor, while the restaurant was on the second floor.
The establishments were directed to amend the licence arrangements and obtain separate licences appropriate to their respective operations. Both were issued 14-day improvement notices under the Food Safety and Standards Act.
The department said that failure to rectify the deficiencies within the stipulated period could lead to suspension of the licence and further action in accordance with the law.
Bihar to Continue Food Safety Inspections
The Food Safety Department has reiterated that food businesses must comply with requirements concerning safe storage, regular cleaning, sanitisation and the segregation of expired products. Vegetarian and non-vegetarian food items must also be stored separately.
Food business operators have been directed to ensure that consumers receive safe, hygienic and good-quality food products.
The department stated that inspection drives would continue and that action would be taken against establishments where violations are found.
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