Finger, Mouse And Now Cobra In Your Order: Are Consumers Being Taken For Granted?

New Delhi: Just when a customer was horrified to allegedly find a de mouse in a Hershey's chocolate syrup on Wednesday afternoon that she'd ordered online via Zepto, anor was in for a rude shock after discovering a human finger in an ice cream cone!

In her Instagram post, Prami Sridhar wrote about 'shocking discovery' of a mouse in her order. She alleged, "Shocking 😮 discovery in my zepto Oder!!

This is kind notice to everyone to open your 👀 eyes…We oderd Hershey s’chocolate syrup from zepto ,to eat with brownie cakes,we started with pouring with cakes .caughted small hair continuously.decided to open . opening was sealed and intact .we  opened and pored in disposable glass a thick and hard consistency of death rat dropped down.by washing in running water for reconformation  .its a death rat😖…

We tried to register complain .but re is no response,3 members where tasted that syrup 2 girls have asymptomatic.one girl have fainted yesterday and got to hospital nearby.and again she was refred to anor hospital for general medicine.with grace she was  aldright now.and investigation quite normal…..so guys please aware of what your eating and odering . Please do check while giving to kids….."

She ded, “This is extremely concerning and unacceptable. We worried about health risks and lack of quality control.” please dress this issue immediately. I demand a full investigation and assurance that this will not happen again.” #foodsafety #foodphotography #food #awerness #awake #support please do share you friends children..Do support create awerness.. @hersheysindia @hersheys"

Likewise, a woman in Noida allegedly found a centipede inside an Amul vanilla ice cream tub she h ordered online. As if this wasn't enough, allegedly a couple in Bengaluru got shock of ir lives after a live cobra tried to struggle his way out through a parcel, ordered from Amazon, as y tried to open it. video posted by couple showed a cobra stuck to packaging tape.

ANI posted a screengrab of video on X and wrote, " A couple from Bengaluru found a spectacled cobra in ir Amazon package containing an Xbox controller. snake was stuck to packaging tape."

All discoveries unfolded have sparked massive concerns about food safety in country. However, a major question arises — are consumers being taken for granted? Are food companies sufficiently investing in quality control measures to ensure safety of ir products? Can customers hold companies accountable for lapses in safety and hygiene? Moreover, are re strict regulatory bodies that don't compromise on standards of products and levy a hefty fine apart from suspending operations of company?

Incidents like se erode trust of consumers, which impacts credibility of companies. Food safety should not be a mere regulatory requirement but a moral obligation for companies.

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), in its letter to state food safety commissioners and regional directors, raised concerns about same. According to a report in ANI, letter to commissioners of food safety of all states and Union Territories and all regional directors of FSSAI stated, "State FDAs regularly undertake enforcement sampling of food products across country to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food to consumers. It is essential to ensure that food if found unsafe as per provisions of FSS Act, 2006, has to be prohibited for sale/ recalled from food supply chain to protect consumers."

letter furr re, "If enforcement samples are found unsafe in primary lab report, you are requested to direct Designated Officers (DOs) / Central Licencing Authorities (CLAS) under your respective jurisdiction to take following action immediately."