The Karnataka Food Safety and Drug Administration Department has seized expired and near-expiry food products, inadequately labelled items and unlicensed drugs worth Rs 1.43 crore during raids at five dark stores, warehouses and retail establishments across Bengaluru Urban and Rural districts.
The enforcement drive followed complaints and a tip-off linked to a ‘peptide party’ held in the city. Officials subsequently inspected e-commerce storage facilities, dark stores and retail outlets for compliance with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
At Amazon BLR6 in Devanahalli, teams seized misbranded food products valued at Rs 14 lakh, expired food worth Rs 10 lakh and unlicensed drugs worth Rs 2.45 lakh. At Amazon BLR7RKV in Anekal taluk, officials found improperly labelled food products worth Rs 19 lakh, expired food valued at Rs 13 lakh and unlicensed drugs worth Rs 1.57 lakh.
The department also inspected Saptha Bazaar in HBR Layout, where officials found that groceries, milk, vegetables, curd and other food products were being procured through online delivery agencies for resale. Expired cashew biscuits, ragi flour, chicken patties, paneer, nuts and eggs valued at around Rs 10,000 were confiscated.
At Leo 7 Enterprises in Lingarajapuram, officials found food products worth Rs 56 lakh that were either expired or nearing expiry. The products included nutritional supplements, beverages, chocolates, sweets, ghee, nuts and seeds. The premises were subsequently sealed.
The largest seizure was reported from an Instamart facility in Hoskote, where expired food products valued at Rs 42 lakh were confiscated. Officials also reported unhygienic storage conditions and ordered the immediate closure of the facility.
The department is investigating additional stocks suspected to be mislabeled or expired, with an estimated value of around Rs 1 crore. The total seizure value of Rs 1.43 crore was released by the FDA Commissioner.
Health and Family Welfare Minister UT Khader said the government would not tolerate practices that put public health at risk. He also said the government was considering legal amendments to enable criminal proceedings against repeat offenders and those involved in the unauthorised distribution of drugs.
The FDA’s inspections and investigation into the additional suspected stocks are the next steps in the enforcement action.
