Rat found in Blinkit ice-cream freezer in Thane store

A rat was found inside an ice-cream freezer at a Blinkit store in Kalyan's Godrej Hill area in Thane. Teenagers who visited the store to buy ice cream spotted the rodent running in the enclosed compartment near food items and recorded a video that later spread on social media, according to a Times Now report. Local residents are now demanding strict action from the Food and Drug Administration against the store.

The incident comes as the Maharashtra FDA intensifies a crackdown on quick-commerce platforms. Last week, the FDA suspended licences of 14 facilities linked to Blinkit, Instamart and Zepto. Of these, five belonged to Blinkit, five to Zepto and two to Instamart. The FDA has also issued 60 improvement notices and ordered temporary suspension at one facility. A Blinkit warehouse in Ghatkopar scored just 46 per cent in an inspection for violations including inadequate drainage, poor waste disposal and temperature-control issues.