Wrong serve Police complaint after chicken burger served for a veg order; e-way joint may face case under Food Safety and Standard Act
Pune: A CEO of solar panel making company has filed a police complaint against a popular food joint McDonald’s alleging that the food joint staff gave him non-vegetarian burger despite ordering for a vegetarian burger.
On Saturday evening Gopal Kabra (33), a resident of Lake Town in Pune’s Bibwewadi area, was returning home from Mumbai along with his wife and nine-month old daughter by a car. On the way, they stopped for refreshments near Talegoan Dhabhade.
“Around 5 pm, we reached McDonald’s. Me and my wife being vegetarians, we ordered a paneer spicy burger along with a coffee. The cashier suggested we try the new burger which comes in a certain combo. We ordered two combo packs. The moment I took a bite of the burger, I realised something is wrong with it. I thought it was rotten paneer,” Kabra explained.
When he informed the cashier about the unusual taste, the cashier claimed that the food was hygienic. He then asked cashier to taste the same burger. He tasted it and said it was chicken. “Even after all this, instead of apologising the deputy manager of the joint said it was no big deal, and it was a small mistake. Other customers at the joint suggested I tell the police and teach them a lesson.”
Kabra approached Talegoan Dhabhade police station and gave a complaint. The seized burgers have been sent to the Pune Cantonment based Food testing laboratory.
Assistant police inspector Rajendra Patil of Talegaon Dhabhade police station said, “We have seized the burger and have carried out a panchanama of the spot. We have also sought legal opinion on this. The burger will be sent to Food Drug Administration (FDA), who will send it for testing. After the laboratory reports come, a case will be registered.”
Shashikant Kekare, joint commissioner (Food), FDA said, “The chemical analysis of the food ingredients and food microbiologist will give its opinion on the seized burger. If the report is positive then the food joint will face a case under Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006. Under the same act, I have special powers where I can penalise the food joint and file a court case against them.”
Senior lawyer SK Jain said, “At present, police can register a case of cheating under Indian Penal Code where the punishment is maximum of seven years and a separate case can be registered under the Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006. There are sections regarding unsafe food also under genetically modified foods, organic foods, functional foods and proprietary foods. One can also file a seperate plaint before the consumer forum under Consumer Protection Act.” The employees at the food joint in question refused to comment on this issue.
Lesson for MNC companies .....
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