Zepto, the popular quick-commerce delivery platform, is under fire after an Ex-Employee alleged unethical practices, including knowingly dispatching expired food items to customers. The claims of the whistleblower, made via an anonymous Reddit post, have reignited concerns over hygiene and food safety across the company’s network.
In the Reddit viral post, the former Zepto employee accused the company of selling ‘expired’ products and exploiting employees
As soon as this post went viral, netizens began reacting to it and flooded the comment section with their views. A Reddit user who has worked in the food and grocery delivery company Zepto has written a derogatory post on social media.
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A former Zepto staff member took to Reddit (via the subreddit r/FuckZepto) and publicly accused the company of operating in what he called “unethical and unhygienic” conditions. The post, which quickly went viral, outlined some shocking allegations.
The ex-employee revealed that employees were routinely instructed to dispatch expired items, such as Greek yogurt and dairy products, with full knowledge that they had passed their expiry date. Fresh produce that is damaged or visibly rotten is packed and sent without hesitation.
He claimed that during the Pune monsoon, workers stood in waterlogged dark stores, working in unsafe and unsanitary conditions. The post also claimed such practices were normalized, and no systems were in place to protect customers from contaminated or spoiled goods.
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The Reddit user who claims to have worked in Zepto for 3 years has questioned the company’s lack of hygiene and its ethics, and wrote,
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Here is the viral post
I Worked at Zepto for 3 Years. Here’s the Ugly Truth
byu/lvalue_required inmumbai
This has now sparked a debate in the comment section
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What This Means for Consumers
This controversy highlights significant cracks in the quick-commerce model, especially when speed is prioritized over safety. With groceries often delivered in under 10 minutes, it raises critical questions like, Are there proper checks on quality controls? Are gig workers trained or empowered to stop unsafe deliveries?
Food safety activists are urging platforms like Zepto, Blinkit, and Swiggy Instamart to adopt stricter warehouse inspections, real-time inventory management, and greater accountability for vendors.
While the company should incorporate corrective measures, the pressure is mounting for systemic reform across India’s booming quick-commerce industry.
Until then, consumers are being advised to check expiration dates upon delivery, avoid accepting visibly damaged or suspicious food items, and report unsafe deliveries to food regulators (FSSAI/FDA).
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What are your opinions on this matter? Let us know in the comments.
