“The Reality Is Disgusting,” Whistleblower Alleges Zepto Warehouses Are Filthy & Unhygienic; Netizens Shocked

While fast-delivery platforms have made lives a lot easier, there have been cases where expired food products, damaged items have sneakily entered our homes. That leaves many questioning the condition of dark rooms and warehouses managed by companies. Recently, an ex-employee of Zepto anonymously shared his experience on Reddit, leaving Netizens shocked.

Zepto Whistleblower Sheds Light On Unhygienic Warehouse Conditions

Taking to the sub-Reddit, r/pune, a Redditor, lvalue_required, revealed that he has worked in Zepto for three years. And the ex-employee stated that he can’t stay silent anymore. The anonymous whistleblower shared an anecdote where a customer ordered a Greek yoghurt once. The warehouse had just three cups of yoghurt left, which the Redditor alleged were all expired. Yet, the store-in-charge instructed the gig worker to deliver it anyway, with no regard for the customer’s well-being.

I Worked at Zepto for 3 Years. Here’s the Ugly Truth. – Post from r/FuckZepto
byu/lvalue_required inpune

The whistleblower stated that while people think the fast delivery platform is hygienic, “the reality is disgusting.” In the monsoon season, the Redditor informed that the Pune store gets flooded with gutter water. And that’s exactly in the same spot where the groceries are packed. To explain the situation of gig workers like himself, the Redditor shared they his team has worked for over nine hours standing in dirty water, barefoot. He claims the warehouse is so unhygienic and a health hazard that many workers fell sick and were given no medical compensation.

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Claims Expired Food Products Delivered Without Hesitation; Netizens Shocked

When it came to the food products, the whistleblower stated that fruits and veggies arrived damaged and rotting. Despite this, they were still instructed to pack and deliver them. Moreover, expired food products are often delivered without any hesitation. He called the company’s practices unethical and stated that customers deserved to know the truth. The Redditor ended his post by urging people not to order from Zepto.

This post comes after the Maharashtra Food & Drug Administration (FDA) suspended the company’s Dharavi outlet’s license recently. A warehouse inspection led to officials discovering fungal-laden food products and expired stock at the Mumbai outlet. Netizens took to the whistleblower’s post, echoing that it’s better to visit a local kirana store and shop for oneself.

Also Read: “This Is Luxury!”: UK Traveller Reacts To Seamless Food Delivery On Indian Railways

Apart from the elderly and the sick, people must make time to go shopping rather than leaning on apps for convenience, was the common sentiment. Others slammed the unfair practices adopted by certain quick commerce companies that put the health of their customers at risk.

Like the Redditor claimed, I have also received expired Greek yoghurt ordered from a quick delivery app. It throws light on the lack of proper refrigeration facilities at warehouses and the direction of superiors to gig workers to deliver expired products. A wake-up call for companies to do better.

Cover Image Courtesy: Canva Pro/ svetikd and Reddit/lvalue_required