A family in New Delhi has claimed to have discovered a dead mouse inside a bottle of Hershey’s chocolate syrup, which they ordered through the rapid delivery app Zepto. The alarming incident, shared by Prami Sridhar on social media, has sparked widespread concern and criticism over food safety standards.
Sridhar posted a video on Instagram, capturing the gruesome find in the syrup. The post, which has quickly gone viral, showcases the family’s horrifying experience as they poured out the syrup to use with brownie cakes, only to notice suspicious hairs. Their initial curiosity turned into shock as they emptied the syrup into a cup and discovered the deceased rodent. A subsequent rinse under running water confirmed the presence of the mouse.
“Three members of my family consumed the syrup before we discovered the contamination. One of them even required medical attention,” Sridhar disclosed in her post. The disturbing video has since garnered over 5 million views, igniting a flurry of comments and reactions.
Sridhar expressed frustration over the lack of response from customer service channels when attempting to lodge a complaint. “I’m extremely concerned and find this unacceptable. We need a thorough investigation into this matter,” she urged on Instagram, highlighting the potential health risks and calling for greater vigilance with packaged foods.
In response to the viral post, Hershey’s issued a statement expressing regret and requesting further details to investigate the issue. “Hi there, we are very sorry to see this. Please send us the UPC and manufacturing code from the bottle to consumercare@hersheys.com with the reference number 11082163 so one of our team members can assist you,” the statement read.
This incident follows closely on the heels of another alarming discovery in Noida, where a woman claimed to have found a centipede inside an ice-cream tub purchased via an instant delivery app. The woman, Deepa Devi, posted a picture on June 15, tagging the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and urging for immediate action.
The rising instances of food contamination are raising serious concerns about the safety protocols followed by food manufacturers and delivery services. As these shocking discoveries come to light, there is an increasing demand for stringent quality control measures to ensure consumer safety.