KOCHI: The Ernakulam District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has awarded compensation to a consumer on the complaint of seeing a dead worm inside a sealed muesli packet. The order was on the complaint filed by Sreeraj Pradeep Kumar of Nettoor in Ernakulam against Pagariya Food Products in Karnataka.

Sreeraj purchased a packet of the food product Kwality Mix Fruit Muesli from Bismi Hypermart in Nettoor on July 18, 2024. The manufacturing date written on it was April 6, 2024. The last date to use it was January 5, 2025. When the muesli packet was opened, a foul smell emanated and so checked it. Then a dead worm was found inside the packet.

Sreeraj immediately approached the authorities of the food safety department in Tripunithura. Subsequently, a test conducted at the food safety laboratory found a dead worm in the packet and reported it as inedible. Although this information was reported to the company, they only replaced the product without considering the physical and mental difficulties experienced by the consumer.

The bench, headed by D B Binu and comprising V Ramachandran and T N Sreevidya, observed that the actions of the opposing party had caused the consumer health and mental difficulties. It ordered the opposing party to refund the price of the product, which was Rs 265.50, to the consumer, and to pay Rs 20,000 as compensation for mental anguish, financial and health difficulties and Rs 10,000 towards court costs within 45 days.