Food safety authorities in Karnataka have seized expired and mislabelled food items worth Rs 1.38 crore, alongside medicines valued at Rs 4.02 lakh, following extensive raids across e-commerce storage hubs and retail units in Bengaluru and adjoining areas. The coordinated inspections, carried out by the Karnataka Food Safety and Drugs Administration, targeted major digital fulfillment centers operated by Amazon and Swiggy Instamart as part of an intensified campaign against violations in the online supply chain.
Large-Scale Seizures at Amazon and Swiggy Instamart Facilities
The regulatory action uncovered significant quantities of outdated and improperly labeled goods across primary logistics hubs. At an Amazon facility in Devanahalli, inspectors seized food items worth Rs 14 lakh for alleged labelling violations and expired stock worth Rs 10 lakh, resulting in a total food seizure of Rs 24 lakh. Officials at the site also confiscated medicines valued at Rs 2.45 lakh that were allegedly stored without the required licences.
A separate raid at an Amazon warehouse in Anekal led to the confiscation of food products worth Rs 19 lakh over labelling irregularities and expired goods worth Rs 13 lakh, bringing the site’s total food seizure to Rs 32 lakh. Medicines worth Rs 1.57 lakh were also impounded at the location. Meanwhile, authorities shut down a Swiggy Instamart facility in Hoskote after discovering expired food products valued at Rs 42 lakh amid unhygienic storage conditions that violated provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act.
Inspections Spread to Local Retailers and Storage Units
The enforcement drive extended beyond large e-commerce platforms into local neighborhood stores suspected of sourcing expired goods from delivery companies. Acting on a complaint, officials searched Saptha Bazaar in HBR Layout, where items including expired cashew biscuits, ragi flour, chicken patties, paneer, eggs, and cookies worth about Rs 10,000 were seized. The outlet had allegedly been purchasing food products from online delivery agencies to resell outdated items directly to consumers.
In Lingarajapuram, inspectors raided Leo 7 Enterprises and discovered expired or near-expiry nutritional products, beverages, sweets, ghee, chocolates, nuts, and seeds. The owner reported storing stock valued at approximately Rs 56 lakh on the premises, leading authorities to seize the entire facility pending further inquiries.
Drive Intensifies Across City Establishments as Notices Issued
According to consolidated data released by the department, the total haul across the city reached Rs 1.43 crore, comprising Rs 33 lakh worth of improperly labelled food, Rs 1.05 crore worth of expired or near-expiry consumables, and Rs 4.02 lakh worth of pharmaceuticals. The department expanded its investigation after examining documents related to an event held in Bengaluru, focusing checks on shelf life, mandatory labelling, and regulatory storage licences.
Officials confirmed that formal notices have been served to non-compliant establishments, with strict penal action being prepared under food safety laws. The department intends to widen inspections in the coming days to cover restaurants, hotels, clubs, and distribution warehouses supplying commercial kitchens across the Bengaluru metropolitan region.
