Chennai: Rs 25,000 fine for pizza with metal nut

Chennai: The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Chennai (South) slapped a fine of Rs 25,000 on a famous Pizza restaurant for selling a pizza with a metal nut in it. A resident underwent treatment after biting the pizza and breaking his teeth five years ago.

In the petition, R. Shankar of Mulligoor Village, Nilgiris district submitted that on February 19, 2014 he ordered a medium Pan Vegetarian Pizza along with other food items from M/s. Dominos Pizza, T. Nagar. The food items were delivered at 10.45 p.m. on the same day and the bill amount of Rs.622 collected from him.

While biting and eating the pizza, he felt something hard that felt like there was a foreign object in the pizza. While biting and chewing the pizza his teeth broken into pieces.  Immediately he stopped eating and checked the pizza and found a metal nut in it. He was compelled to go and take treatment in a dental hospital.

After taking treatment with the dentist, he contacted M/s. Jubilant Food Works Ltd., General Manager, Corporate office, Noida and M/s. Dominos Pizza, T. Nagar. He also lodged a police complaint and reported the matter to the Tamil Nadu Food, Safety and Drug Administration Department, Chennai on the next day.

Shankar said the act of M/s. Jubilant Food Works Ltd and M/s. Dominos Pizza amounts to deficiency in service and unfair trade practice that caused him mental agony.  He sought a compensation of Rs 5 lakh from General Manager, M/s. Jubilant Food Works Ltd and branch manager, M/s. Dominos Pizza, T Nagar.

In his reply, General Manager M/s. Jubilant Food Works Ltd. stated that the complainant was making a false allegation. The GM said the firm is a master franchisee in India of the leading international brand of Domino's Pizza.  The brand carries enormous reputation in public for providing wholesome, clean and delectable pizzas prepared and home delivered or served in a very hygienic, time-bound and organised manner. The complaint was filed with malafide intention to make illegal gain. The company not committed deficiency in service and hence, the complaint liable to be dismissed. M/s. Dominos Pizza remained exparte.

The bench comprising president M. Mony and member R. Baskarkumaravel, said Sankar's teeth in his left upper jaw were broken into pieces and thereby he was compelled to take treatment in a dental clinic. The doctor prescribed a pain killer tablet, which shows while chewing the pizza, the nut found in the pizza had caused some damage to the teeth. The bench directed M/s. Jubilant Food Works Ltd and M/s. Dominos Pizza, T Nagar jointly and severally to refund him Rs 622 being the cost of pizza and to pay a compensation of Rs 25,000  in total  for causing him mental agony.