Human Found Finger Inside Ice-creame Cone
Context
Dr. Orlem Serrao, a Mumbai resident, found
a piece of a human finger while eating a
Yummo butterscotch cone which was
delivered via an online app.
Serrao's sister promptly informed the police
after discovering a human finger in the ice
cream. The police confirmed it was indeed a
human finger and have sent it for forensic
investigation. They also plan to search the
location where the
ice
cream was
manufactured and packed, emphasizing that
they are taking the incident very seriously.
What the Law says:
Section 54 of the Food Safety and Standards
Act, 2006 states that: Penalty for food
containing extraneous matter- Any person
whether by himself or by any other person
on his behalf manufactures for sale or stores
or sells or distributes or imports any article
of food for human consumption containing
extraneous matter, shall be liable to a
penalty which may extend to one lakh
rupees.
A human finger herein squarely falls under
the ambit of such "extraneous matter".
Redressal in such cases
• The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 was
enacted to provide a simpler and quicker
access to redressal of consumer grievances.
• Section 17 of the CPA, 2019 provides that -
Complaint to Authority-
A complaint
relating to violation of consumer rights or
unfair trade practices or false or misleading
advertisements which are prejudicial to the
interests of consumers as a class, may be
forwarded either in writing or in electronic
mode, to any one of the authorities, namely,
the District Collector or the Commissioner
of regional office or the Central Authority.
Importance of Food Safety
• Food safety encompasses practices to
ensure that food remains safe throughout
the manufacturing chain, from harvesting
and processing to storage and consumption.
• The discovery of a human finger in the ice
cream is a blatant example of gross
negligence, highlighting severe lapses in
food safety protocols.
• This incident underscores the critical need
for stringent adherence to these standards
to prevent foodborne illnesses and protect
consumer health.
