Baby snake found in soda bottle: Food Safety Dept shuts down manufacturing unit

VELLANGALLUR: The Food Safety Department has shut down a soda manufacturing unit after a baby snake was found dead inside a bottle of jeera soda (cumin soda) purchased from a fast-food shop. The action was taken by the Kodungallur Food Safety wing against a unit operating near a house in Konathukunnu.

The incident came to light yesterday when a young man, who had come to a local shop for a meal, ordered a jeera soda. Upon opening the bottle, he discovered a dead baby snake inside. A complaint was filed along with a video of the incident, prompting officials to conduct an inspection at 2:30 PM.

Although the establishment had been operating with a valid license for ten years, officials issued an immediate "stop memo" due to gross negligence in maintaining hygiene. The authorities also destroyed the existing stock of jeera soda found at the manufacturing unit.