# Food Safety Raid at Zepto Dark Store in Pratap Nagar Unearths 25 kg Expired Stock and Hygiene Lapses

> Food safety officials in Jaipur inspected a Zepto dark store in Pratap Nagar, destroying around 25 kg of expired edible items on the spot. The inspection revealed pesticide storage near food items, foul-smelling milk chillers, rat holes, and improper handling of non-veg goods.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Rajasthan · **Published:** 2026-10-03 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/rajasthan/pratap-nagar-men-zepto-ke-darka-stora-para-khadya-suraksha-tima-ka-chhapa-25-kilo-eksapayarda-samana-nashta-42481 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Zepto, Food Safety, Jaipur, Pratap Nagar, Dark Store, Adulteration Drive, Expired Food

A food safety inspection team carried out a major regulatory check at a dark store operated by quick-commerce platform Zepto in the Pratap Nagar locality of Jaipur. The sudden inspection was part of the statewide campaign titled 'Shuddh Aahar-Milawat Par Waar', which targets adulteration, improper storage, and substandard consumer food products across urban hubs. During the physical check, officials discovered severe compromises in hygiene and storage protocols, including roughly 25 kilograms of expired food items that were past their use-by dates. The enforcement team condemned the compromised inventory and destroyed the entire lot immediately at the site to prevent it from reaching consumers.

## Hazardous Co-Storage of Pesticides Alongside Packaged Groceries
Upon reviewing the distribution layout inside the warehouse, inspectors discovered toxic pesticides stored in direct proximity to edible grocery items. Maintaining hazardous chemicals beside daily provisions represents a clear violation of basic handling norms, drawing sharp objections from the inspection personnel. Furthermore, frozen and fresh non-vegetarian products were not preserved according to mandated temperature controls and segregated cold-chain guidelines. Such negligence creates significant risks of cross-contamination, rapidly degrading product quality and jeopardizing public health.

## Foul Odours in Milk Chillers, Dirty Racks, and Rodent Infestations
The sanitary conditions inside the specialized dairy storage units were equally troubling. Inside the milk chiller, spilled milk had collected across internal surfaces and was emitting a foul stench. Inspection of standard shelving units revealed substandard cleanliness, while pest management mechanisms completely failed to meet required commercial hygiene benchmarks. Most critically, several active rat holes were detected along the warehouse walls, right where food inventory was stocked. The evident presence of rodents near unsealed and packed consumables highlighted glaring lapses in foundational pest control practices.

## Official Sampling of Cooking Oil, Ghee, and Packaged Goods
To verify the chemical and physical integrity of the inventory, the enforcement team collected formal product samples for comprehensive laboratory evaluation. The seized samples included mustard oil, desi ghee, Maggi noodles, peanut namkeen, and turmeric powder. These sealed batches are being forwarded to an accredited food testing facility, where specialized analysis will determine whether the products comply with statutory standards. Definite regulatory conclusions regarding contamination or sub-standard grades will emerge once formal lab findings are published.

## Enforcement Under the Clean Food Campaign
The operation represents an extension of intensive monitoring conducted under the ongoing pure food and anti-adulteration drive across the state. Additional Commissioner of Food Safety Bhagwat Singh outlined the details of the operation, stating that departmental inspection units are continuously screening storage warehouses and retail centers to ensure strict compliance. He affirmed that alongside destroying the expired stock at the Pratap Nagar center, official samples were secured for systematic scrutiny, and further departmental proceedings will proceed in accordance with the forthcoming laboratory results.

## What this means for you
This regulatory action serves as a vital alert for regular consumers who depend on rapid grocery delivery applications for daily provisions.

- **Across India:** Consumers ordering groceries via quick-commerce apps must strictly inspect expiry dates and container seals immediately upon receiving their packages. If expired or compromised items arrive, customers should promptly report the issue on the platform and register a complaint with consumer safety authorities.
- **In Jaipur:** Residents across Pratap Nagar and adjoining localities should exercise heightened vigilance when ordering dairy, non-vegetarian items, and pantry staples from local distribution hubs. The regional food safety wing advises consumers to report suspicious foul odours or damaged food packets directly to enforcement officials.
- **Verification Advice:** Always inspect the manufacturing date, use-by date, and batch numbering printed on delivered cartons before preparation. Refuse items that feature torn seals, smudged dates, or signs of tampering.
- **Cold Chain Awareness:** Ensure delivered dairy and frozen goods remain consistently chilled at the doorstep. Never consume thawed frozen items or puffed dairy pouches that show signs of temperature abuse during storage.

## Why this happened
The inspection was triggered by the ongoing 'Shuddh Aahar-Milawat Par Waar' enforcement drive, aimed at auditing food hygiene and cracking down on adulteration across state commercial facilities.

- **Targeted Enforcement:** State authorities have intensified spontaneous inspections across bulk warehouses and rapid delivery hubs to ensure public health compliance. Officials visited the Pratap Nagar location as part of these ongoing monitoring sweeps.
- **Storage Protocol Breaches:** Warehouse operators failed to segregate outdated inventory, allowing 25 kilograms of expired goods to remain in active storage. Crucial guidelines were also broken by placing hazardous pesticides in direct proximity to consumer foods.
- **Sanitary Deficits:** The detection of rodent burrows and unwashed milk chillers points to a breakdown in regular sanitation audits. Facility managers failed to maintain required commercial pest control and temperature upkeep standards.
- **Pending Lab Outcomes:** Authorized inspectors secured multiple staple samples for government testing. Legal and departmental actions will be determined strictly in line with the certified laboratory findings.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. Where did the food safety department conduct the inspection on Zepto's dark store?
The food safety team conducted the surprise inspection at a Zepto dark store situated in Pratap Nagar, Jaipur.

### 2. How much expired stock was detected during the warehouse check?
Inspectors discovered approximately 25 kilograms of expired food items, which were destroyed immediately on the spot.

### 3. What major hygiene and storage violations were discovered in the dark store?
Officials found pesticides stored beside food items, a foul-smelling milk chiller with spilled milk, dirty shelves, and rat holes in the walls.

### 4. Which grocery samples were collected by authorities for lab testing?
The team collected samples of mustard oil, desi ghee, Maggi noodles, turmeric powder, and peanut namkeen for formal laboratory analysis.

### 5. Under which official initiative was this raid executed?
The action was executed as part of the state's ongoing 'Shuddh Aahar-Milawat Par Waar' anti-adulteration campaign.

### 6. Who provided the official details regarding this departmental action?
Additional Commissioner of Food Safety Bhagwat Singh provided the details regarding the inspection and sample collections.

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