Vadodara/Anand: Food safety standards at popular and well-known food outlets have come under scrutiny once again following two alarming incidents involving contaminated food.

In Vadodara, serious negligence regarding food quality was reported at the well-known Santushti Shakes & More outlet in the Karelibaug area. Two students from Parul University purchased sealed cheesecakes, but upon opening the package, they found the cakes to be spoiled, moldy, and extremely sour. The purchased item, costing ₹190, was part of a ₹400 bill for two cheesecakes.

When the students raised the issue with the outlet staff, they received a dismissive response. The staff contacted the manager, who reportedly claimed that the product was not spoiled and that the extreme sourness was simply a flavor. The manager suggested the students buy another flavor instead. The students also alleged that the product emitted a strong, foul, fermented smell, making it difficult for staff members to remain near it.

Detailing the incident, student Darshan Patel said, “My name is Darshan Patel, and I am a student at Parul University. I live in Waghodia. We bought two cheesecakes from Santushti, and they were completely spoiled. Since this is a dairy product, it had turned sour and emitted a foul smell. When we approached the manager, we did not receive any proper response. We were shocked that a reputed brand like Santushti could sell such products.”

 

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Darshan also urged the Vadodara Health Department to take strict action. “I request the Vadodara Health Department to inspect all Santushti outlets and ensure that every product has a clear expiry date. Currently, Santushti produces these items without expiry labels, and they can be sold for weeks or even months. Proper labeling and inspection should be mandatory.”

In a separate incident in Vallabh Vidyanagar, Anand, a customer reportedly purchased a sub sandwich from a Subway outlet, only to find a live caterpillar inside it. The customer documented the incident in a video, which has since gone viral on social media, sparking public outrage over food safety standards.

These incidents have raised serious concerns about the adherence to hygiene and food safety protocols in popular food outlets across the state, prompting calls for stricter monitoring and enforcement. DeshGujarat