Zomato, one of India's leading food delivery and B2B food supply platforms, faced scrutiny this week after a food safety inspection at its Hyperpure warehouse in Hyderabad flagged 90 packets of button mushrooms labeled with a "future packing date."

This seemingly controversial labeling discrepancy raised questions about Zomato's quality controls, leading CEO Deepinder Goyal to clarify that the mislabeling was due to a "manual typing error" by the vendor, which was promptly caught and addressed by the company's internal checks.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) conducted a routine inspection at Zomato's Hyperpure facility, revealing the mislabeled mushrooms and prompting widespread media attention. Hyperpure, Zomato's B2B vertical, supplies fresh produce and ingredients directly to restaurants. Goyal responded publicly, emphasizing that Zomato's rigorous quality control systems had already flagged and rejected the mislabeled mushrooms upon arrival, even before the FSSAI team's inspection.

In his statement on X, Goyal highlighted that the mislabeled mushrooms were worth only Rs 7,200-a small fraction of the overall inventory in the facility. He questioned the media's focus on this incident, especially given that the Hyderabad warehouse had received an A+ rating from regulators. He stressed that Zomato's processes caught the error internally and that the vendor responsible for the mislabeling has been delisted.

Yet the incident has raised broader issues about food safety and quality assurance in India's fast-growing food-tech industry. Although Hyperpure's systems identified and isolated the mislabeled product before it could reach customers, the FSSAI inspection report also cited other potential issues at the facility, including open access to the outdoor environment and inadequate sanitation practices among some workers.

This controversy underscores the balancing act for companies like Zomato that operate high-volume supply chains in the food industry. While Hyperpure's stringent internal protocols may mitigate risks, this incident reflects the challenges that arise from dependence on external suppliers. Even small errors can escalate quickly, especially when they involve regulatory oversight and public trust.

Goyal's response has largely aimed to reassure stakeholders of Hyperpure's commitment to food safety, but the episode serves as a reminder of the constant vigilance required to maintain these standards. As Zomato continues to scale Hyperpure to serve its restaurant partners, such incidents highlight the need for even tighter coordination with vendors to avoid reputational risks tied to supply chain errors.

For consumers and businesses alike, this incident illustrates the complexities of food safety in the digital age and underscores the importance of transparent communication when errors occur.