NEW DELHI: In a major crackdown on the rapidly growing quick-commerce sector, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has slapped nine official notices to e-commerce giant Swiggy Instamart. The severe regulatory action follows a barrage of consumer complaints alleging the platform has been delivering expired, rotten, contaminated, and entirely unsafe food products to doorsteps across the country.
The central food regulator has given the platform a strict ultimatum: submit a detailed, evidence-backed compliance report explaining these severe lapses, or face immediate legal prosecution under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
Rotten Eggs and Contaminated Infant Formula Supplied
The specifics outlined in the FSSAI notices paint a deeply concerning picture of the quick-commerce giant’s inventory management. Consumers reported receiving ‘Akshayakalpa Organic Eggs’ in a completely rotten condition, emitting a foul odor and displaying visible signs of contamination. Similarly, ‘Kakke da Paratha’ packets were allegedly delivered spoiled and unfit for human consumption, while ‘Healthify 100% Whey Protein’ and ‘Noice Homestyle Madras Mixture’ were supplied well past their official expiry dates on Swiggy Instamart.
The most alarming incident cited by the regulator involves an infant food formulation. The baby food was reportedly delivered in a highly deteriorated and unsafe condition due to improper storage. Shockingly, the FSSAI noted that after the customer returned the defective item, the exact same contaminated product was allegedly re-supplied to them.
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Fake Licences and Ignored Consumer Grievances Flagged
Beyond the spoiled food, the FSSAI investigation has unearthed massive operational and compliance red flags. The regulator found that ‘NOICE Eggs’ were being marketed and sold under a brand category not even covered by the company’s existing FSSAI licence. Furthermore, the notices highlight instances of vendors operating with incorrect, invalid, or completely non-existent FSSAI licence numbers.
The food authority heavily criticized Swiggy Instamart’s internal consumer grievance redressal systems. According to the regulator, severe health-hazard complaints were routinely ignored or merely met with a refund, with zero corrective action taken to trace the root cause or pull the contaminated batches from the platform’s dark stores.
Quick Commerce Under Rising Regulatory Scrutiny
This barrage of notices comes just 24 hours after Swiggy had to issue a public clarification regarding a separate FSSAI prohibition order dated July 6, 2026. That earlier order targeted the company’s separate food ordering platform, “Toing,” which Swiggy claimed was merely an administrative issue regarding the updating of licence particulars and involved no direct food safety threats.
However, these nine new notices directly challenge the core operational integrity of Swiggy Instamart. As urban consumers increasingly rely on 10-minute grocery deliveries, the FSSAI’s latest move signals a decisive shift toward holding quick-commerce aggregators legally accountable for the quality and safety of the food sitting in their localized warehouses.