Rat in Maharashtra’s Kalyan hub prompts residents to seek FDA intervention

A video from a quick-commerce facility in Kalyan’s Godrej Hill area shows a rat inside an ice cream storage crate. Residents have asked the FDA and municipal authorities to inspect the unit.

A video recorded at a quick-commerce delivery hub in Kalyan’s Godrej Hill area has surfaced. The footage shows a rat moving around inside a crate containing ice cream.

The facility is part of a major quick-commerce provider. The video has led to residents demanding action. They have asked the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and municipal authorities to inspect the hub. They have also called for legal proceedings against the facility for violations of food safety regulations.

This incident follows a recent FDA action in Malad (West), Mumbai. On August 7, Food Safety Officers inspected a facility at Sarvodaya Bhavan, Ramchandra Lane. The inspection found violations. These included food items placed on contaminated racks or directly on the floor. The unit had packaging deficiencies. Cold-storage facilities were not maintained. Expired, damaged, or tampered packaged goods were present.

The FDA also noted the absence of insect and rodent control measures. Waste management practices were poor. Records of medical examinations and health documentation of food handlers were missing.

The authority initiated action under Section 32(3) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011. The food licence of the Malad unit was suspended from July 27, 2026. The establishment is prohibited from selling, distributing, or importing processed foods until further orders.

Residents of Kalyan have cited this Malad case in their appeal. They have stated that the presence of rodents at delivery hubs poses a risk to public health. They have urged the FDA to extend similar scrutiny to the Kalyan facility.