IndiGo, a prominent private airline in India, has faced scrutiny from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) following a passenger’s claim of discovering live worms in a vegetarian sandwich served during a Delhi-Mumbai flight on December 29, 2023.
Kushboo Gupta, the passenger who made the alarming discovery, brought attention to the issue after finding live worms in her sandwich mid-flight. Gupta promptly informed the cabin crew, urging them to inspect other sandwiches. However, she alleged that the crew did not address the matter seriously and continued serving the sandwiches to other passengers despite being informed about the contamination.
Expressing concern over the incident, Gupta took to social media, highlighting the lax response from the airline staff after being alerted to the presence of worms in the food served onboard.
In response to the passenger’s complaint, the FSSAI issued a show cause notice to IndiGo, citing the food served as “unsafe for human consumption” in accordance with Section 3 of the Food Safety and Standards Act. The notice emphasized the article of food being infected with worms, thus rendering it potentially injurious to health.
IndiGo acknowledged receipt of the notice and assured a prompt response to the FSSAI’s concerns. The airline stated, “It is in receipt of a show cause notice from FSSAI with regard to a food item served on flight 6E 6107 from Delhi to Mumbai. It will be responding to the notice.”
The FSSAI, in its order, directed the parent company of the airline to present a response within seven days, outlining reasons why their license should not face suspension or cancellation under the regulations stipulated in the FSS Act, 2006.
The incident has brought attention to food safety measures aboard airlines, raising concerns about adherence to hygiene standards in catering services. The airline is under increased scrutiny to address and rectify the issue promptly to ensure the safety and well-being of passengers.
As the investigation progresses, the FSSAI awaits a comprehensive response from IndiGo, emphasizing the significance of adhering to food safety protocols in the aviation industry to prevent potential health hazards for passengers.
Sources By Agencies
