The issue of finding foreign objects in food products ordered via quick-commerce applications continues to raise concerns. Recently, a Mumbai resident found a human finger in ice cream, a woman in Noida discovered a dead centipede in an Amul Vanilla ice cream tub, and now, a family has encountered a dead rat in a bottle of Hershey's chocolate syrup.
The family, who ordered the bottle from Zepto, shared a video on Instagram revealing their discovery. Prami Sridhar, who made the purchase, reported that some family members required medical attention after consuming the contaminated syrup. Suspicion arose when they found small strands of hair in the syrup, leading them to empty the bottle, which revealed a dead mouse. The video shows a family member washing the object under running water to confirm it was indeed a dead mouse.
In the video caption, Prami Sridhar wrote, “Guys, please be aware of what you’re eating. Please check while giving to kids… This is extremely concerning and unacceptable. We are worried about the health risks and the lack of quality control. Please address this issue immediately. I demand a full investigation and assurance that this will not happen again.”
Hershey's responded in the comments, stating, “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 video has prompted a strong reaction from users, many of whom demanded an investigation. One user noted, “The item reached you in a seal-packed condition. The problem lies with the manufacturing brand, not the delivery service app. Rather than criticizing Zepto, file a complaint in the consumer court against Hershey's.”
Another user commented, “This is only one bottle found. Think about how many households might have similar bottles containing bacteria from a dead rat.”
A third user expressed their concerns about hygiene, saying, “I have been horrified by so many unhygienic practices lately that I have stopped using many packaged products and started consuming only healthy and non-packaged foods. I hope to completely stop using packaged products in the future.”