Amazon is reviewing findings from Karnataka food safety inspectors who reported seizing mislabelled and expired food products, along with medicines stored without a valid licence, during inspections at two of the company’s storage and supply units in Bengaluru.
The Karnataka Food Safety and Drug Administration said on Tuesday that products worth a combined $59,000 were found at the facilities with “incorrect/inadequate” labelling or past their expiry dates. Officials also seized medicines valued at $4,232 that they said were being stored without a valid licence.
Amazon said on Wednesday that it was examining the inspection findings and would take necessary steps. “We have robust systems and controls designed to prevent products that do not meet applicable regulatory requirements from being listed on amazon.in or entering our fulfilment centers,” the company said in response to a request for comment.
The inspection comes as federal and state authorities intensify enforcement activity across India’s food and consumer goods supply chains. In recent months, officials have raided clubs, restaurants and large brands including Domino’s and McDonald’s as part of a nationwide crackdown.
The Bengaluru action focuses on facilities that handle food products for storage and supply. The findings reported by Karnataka authorities concern product labelling, expiry status and the storage of medicines. The available account does not state whether the seized products had reached consumers or whether the regulator has imposed a penalty on Amazon.
An industry source told Reuters that Amazon was strengthening its internal controls to ensure that similar lapses did not recur. The company did not provide further details on the inspection findings or identify the products involved beyond the categories cited by the state regulator.
The raid follows a separate enforcement action at an unrelated warehouse in Mumbai. Another state regulator had alleged that fake nutritional details and expiry dates were being added to products from PepsiCo, Nestle, Unilever and Coca-Cola to make them export-ready. Those companies had not commented on that matter at the time of the report.
The Karnataka inspection places online retail fulfilment operations within the scope of the state’s food and drug safety enforcement. Amazon’s response indicates that the company is reviewing the observations before deciding what further measures may be required. The regulator’s next steps, including any formal action or additional inspections, were not specified in the available report.
Amazon said it would take necessary steps after reviewing the findings.
