Bengaluru: A proposed peptide party promoted on social media eventually led Food Safety and Drug Administration (FDA) officials to Amazon’s dark stores in Bengaluru and other warehouses, after the organisers allegedly told investigators that products linked to the event had been sourced from the e-commerce giant’s facilities.The party, scheduled for Aug 29, was cancelled after the department served notices on the organisers and scrutinised the documents submitted by them. During verification, officials found that the organisers had allegedly attempted to source pharmaceutical and nutritional products through Amazon’s dark stores.Health minister UT Khader said, “During the inquiry, officials found out that they tried to source pharma and nutrients from Amazon dark stores. Our officials then visited the facilities and found drugs worth more than Rs 4 lakh stored without a legal licence.”At Amazon’s unit in Hitech Defence and Aerospace Park, Devanahalli, officials found food products carrying incorrect and inadequate labels that did not conform to prescribed food-safety standards. Food products worth around Rs 24 lakh were seized, while drugs worth Rs 2.5 lakh were found stored without the required licence, a FDA release stated.A separate inspection at Amazon’s supply unit in Madivala and Thattananahalli village in Anekal taluk found food products worth around Rs 19 lakh with incorrect or inadequate labelling. Officials seized food products worth approximately Rs 32 lakh and also found drugs valued at over Rs 1.6 lakh stored without the necessary licence.Amazon, however, is yet to react on the raids.
