Haripad: Restaurant fined for insect in noodles

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Alappuzha Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed a Haripad-based restaurant to pay Rs 5,000 as compensation to a man for serving unhygienic food and causing physical discomfort to his child. In his complaint, Devarajan of Aryad South, Alappuza, said he visited Aditya Hotel at Nangiarkulangara on October 2, 2014. He ordered various types of breads, chicken dishes and noodles. His son, who ate noodles, found a black insect in it and started vomiting soon after. The family alerted the supplier and hotel manager, who instead of helping ridiculed the family for raising alarm.

Soon the boy’s condition worsened and he had to be admitted to TD Medical College Hospital due to exhaustion. Mr Devarajan approached the Forum seeking compensation for the inconveniences and mental agony caused by the incident. He argued that the food was contaminated because it was prepared in the unhygienic condition. The restaurant management argued that no such incident had happened. They also disowned the bill produced by complainant and claimed it was fake.

The hospital OP ticket produced by Mr Devarajan pointed at sacral grisole abdomen caused by discomfort due to food from the hotel. He also produced some photographs as evidence. They hotel officials were ordered to pay Rs 5,000 as compensation and Rs 2,000 as costs. Since the issue was specifically related to noodles, the Forum did not direct the hotel to refund the cost of food.