Regulatory push sends q-comm platforms into food safety talent crunch

A regulatory push from the food safety authority is driving up compliance costs for quick commerce platforms, as they scramble to hire certified food safety professionals amid a widening talent gap.

FSSAI

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) recently mandated that all food handlers in dark stores and warehouses undergo food safety training and certification (FoSTaC). As platforms move to comply, they are finding themselves short-staffed and increasingly dependent on a limited pool of certified personnel. The result is a spike in compensation, growing use of consultants, and mounting pressure on already thin margins in a sector still chasing profitability.