India's food safety regulator is turning up the heat on the online food and grocery marketplace. Before finalising new rules, the FSSAI is intensifying scrutiny of platforms like Swiggy, Zomato, and Blinkit, signalling a major shift for the industry.
What Is Prompting the Increased Scrutiny?
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is taking a more proactive stance on the booming e-commerce food sector. Recent reports and statements from FSSAI officials indicate a strategic move to hold online platforms more accountable for the products sold through their apps. This isn't just about restaurants; it extends to the rapidly growing quick-commerce sector, which includes 'dark stores' used by services like Swiggy Instamart and Blinkit. A surge in consumer complaints about expired, contaminated, and mislabeled products has put pressure on the regulator to act. In July 2026, for example, FSSAI issued nine notices to Swiggy Instamart following allegations of delivering unsafe food, including spoiled items and expired protein powder. The core issue is that the digital marketplace has outpaced traditional regulation, creating gaps in oversight that FSSAI is now determined to close.
The Focus on Dark Stores and Cloud Kitchens
A key area of FSSAI's focus is on business models that lack a physical customer-facing presence: cloud kitchens and dark stores. Cloud kitchens, which only prepare food for delivery, and dark stores, which are warehouses for quick-commerce orders, are harder for both consumers and regulators to monitor compared to traditional restaurants and shops. FSSAI is concerned about hygiene standards, proper storage conditions (especially for frozen items), and the traceability of food prepared in these locations. Under the proposed changes, the regulator is considering mandating the disclosure of photographs and addresses of cloud kitchens to increase transparency. This move aims to bring these 'invisible' food businesses out of the shadows and ensure they adhere to the same safety standards as any brick-and-mortar establishment.
Holding Platforms Accountable
Historically, online aggregators have often positioned themselves as technology intermediaries, simply connecting consumers with sellers. However, FSSAI is pushing for a fundamental shift, treating these platforms as Food Business Operators (FBOs) with direct responsibilities. This means they will be held more accountable for what happens on their watch. The regulator has made it clear that platforms must only list sellers who have a valid FSSAI license or registration and must display this information clearly. FSSAI has previously ordered platforms like Swiggy and Zomato to delist thousands of restaurants that failed to meet this basic requirement. The new wave of scrutiny suggests that platforms will be responsible for everything from verifying seller licenses to ensuring that product listings are not misleading and that consumer complaints are addressed effectively.
What Could the New Rules Look Like?
While the final regulations are still being drafted, recent statements from FSSAI CEO Rajit Punhani and ongoing consultations provide a clear picture of the expected changes. A major proposal is to require online listings to include crucial details like the manufacturing date, expiry date, and batch number of products, allowing consumers to know the exact state of an item before they buy. Other potential rules include stricter mandates on shelf life, with one directive requiring products to have at least 30% of their shelf life or 45 days remaining upon delivery. Furthermore, FSSAI plans to formalise the display of hygiene ratings for restaurants and ensure the training of last-mile delivery personnel in safe food handling. This pre-emptive scrutiny, including inspections of dark stores and cloud kitchens, allows the regulator to gather data and test compliance before codifying the final rules.
What This Means for Consumers and Businesses
For consumers, this crackdown promises a safer and more transparent online food ecosystem. With better labelling, verified sellers, and clearer accountability, ordering food online should come with greater peace of mind. For businesses, the changes will likely mean increased compliance costs and operational adjustments. Restaurants and food brands will need to ensure their FSSAI licenses are always active and match their operating addresses. Quick-commerce platforms may need to invest more in warehouse management systems, temperature controls, and digital traceability to meet the new standards. While potentially challenging for smaller operators, the overarching goal is to level the playing field and build longterm consumer trust in India's digital food market, ensuring that safety and quality keep pace with convenience and speed.
