Rat Found in Ice Cream Crate at Kalyan Delivery Hub, FDA Inspection Sought

A video showing a rat moving inside an ice cream storage crate at a quick-commerce delivery hub in the Godrej Hill area of Kalyan has surfaced, prompting local residents to demand an immediate inspection and regulatory action by authorities. Residents have appealed to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and municipal officials to examine the unit and initiate legal proceedings for violations of food safety regulations.

The recorded footage captured a rodent moving around within a container holding ice cream packages at the local facility, which is operated by a major quick-commerce provider. The emergence of the video sparked concerns among locals regarding sanitation practices at storage and dispatch centers, leading to calls for formal scrutiny.

Residents highlighted that the presence of pests and rodents at delivery hubs poses a serious risk to public health. In their appeal, they urged the FDA to extend strict oversight to the Kalyan facility, citing recent regulatory interventions at similar establishments.

The demand follows regulatory action taken by the FDA in Malad (West), Mumbai. On August 7, Food Safety Officers inspected a facility situated at Sarvodaya Bhavan on Ramchandra Lane and identified multiple food safety breaches. The violations included food items stored directly on the floor or on contaminated racks, packaging deficiencies, poorly maintained cold-storage units, and the presence of expired, damaged, or tampered packaged goods.

Inspectors in the Malad case also noted inadequate waste management, an absence of rodent and insect control measures, and missing records regarding health documentation and medical examinations of food handlers.

Following that inspection, the FDA initiated action under Section 32(3) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and relevant provisions of the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011. The food licence of the Malad establishment was suspended from July 27, 2026, prohibiting the unit from selling, distributing, or importing processed food products until further notice. Kalyan residents have asked authorities to enforce comparable standards at the Godrej Hill facility.