Buyers beware!
Lack of food safety standards

I purchased a packet of branded bread and found, to my utter shock, that there was a dead insect inside the bread. Fortunately, the insect was visible from outside. We neither opened nor consumed it. Since this has serious bearing on the health of the consumer, I would like to pursue it further and ensure that suitable action is taken against the manufacturer. How do I proceed?

If your bread has mould or fungus, take action

First and foremost, take close-up pictures of the bread, showing the insect in the unopened package and also the brand name of the manufacturer. Also get a couple of neighbours and friends to see it and sign a letter confirming the presence of the insect in the unopened food package. Next, call up the food commissioner in your State/Union territory and complain about this and also forward a copy of the complaint along with the picture and a copy of the cash receipt to the e-mail address /complaint form given by the state authorities. In Chandigarh, the contat number of the food commissioner is 0172-2740008; in Punjab, it is 0172-2743442 and in Haryana, it is 0172-2573922 (Source: Food Safety and Standards Authority of India website) you can get the e-mail IDs of these officers too from the website of FSSAI (the relevant icon: Food safety in Indian States/UTs) You can also call the FSSAI helpline number: 1800-11-2100 for any further details. The FSAI website also gives you access to consumer complaints (www.fsai.gov.in/feedback.aspx)

The office of the commissioner will collect the sample for testing. Make sure that you take a receipt for it. Also demand that the Food Commissioner investigate immediately whether there is need to withdraw the entire batch of bread. You have a right to know what action was taken by the food commissioner on your complaint and whether the manufacturer was prosecuted and the results of the prosecution. .

I bought a packet of peeled walnut kernels from a large store. When I opened it, I found that it had turned rancid. A couple of the kernels even had tiny insects coming out of them. The store is refusing to take it back, saying I had opened the packet. How do I deal with this?

This is a serious matter and the store ought to have been more responsible in responding to your complaint. Write a formal complaint to both the manufacturer and the store and tell them that they ought to compensate you for selling substandard, unhygienic and potentially harmful food stuff. Keep the receipt safe and so also
the contents. Contact the Food Commission in your State/union territory and complain. Make sure that you take a receipt for the sample that they collect and tell you about the action taken by them. It is only by pursuing such complaints can one send out a signal to retailers that they have to take responsibility for the product that they sell. In fact, you can also put out on any of the social networks, the behaviour of the shopkeeper and warn other consumers not to buy from him. Remember, he not only sold substandard food stuff, but more important, when you brought it to his notice, refused to redress it. Such behaviour is unacceptable.

In cases such as these, under the Food Safety and Standards Act, a consumer can also be compensated for any injury /adverse health effect caused on account of consumption of such adulterated food. Similarly, under the Consumer Protection Act too, a consumer can seek compensation for any loss or injury caused as a result of consumption of adulterated or sub-standard food.

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