Pune: Fungus Found In Sealed Cake Pack From The Health Factory; Consumer Seeks ₹1 Lakh Compensation
Pune: Fungus Found In Sealed Cake Pack From The Health Factory; Consumer Seeks ₹1 Lakh Compensation
Pune, July 14, 2026: A Pune resident has alleged that he found fungus-covered packaged cakes purchased through an online grocery platform and has accused the manufacturer of attempting to settle the matter privately instead of taking corrective action.
According to the consumer, he purchased The Health Factory Mini Cakes – Roasted Almonds on June 19, 2026 for his minor child through Swiggy Instamart. He claimed that upon opening the sealed pack, he discovered extensive fungal and mold growth on the cakes, despite the product being within its expiry date. The product reportedly belonged to Batch No. 1ZF149D2 with an expiry date of June 27, 2026.
Gupta alleged that after reporting the issue to the manufacturer, Nutri Being Pvt. Ltd., the company acknowledged that some products were experiencing fungal growth but attributed the issue to weather and storage conditions. He further claimed that the company offered to replace the product with complimentary samples, which he declined.
The Pune resident has also alleged that he later received a phone call from the company’s representatives offering ₹5,000 on the condition that he delete his social media posts and withdraw the matter. He said he rejected the offer, stating that public safety should not be compromised.
Following the incident, Gupta said he escalated the matter to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and also lodged a complaint through the National Consumer Helpline, seeking ₹1 lakh in compensation for the alleged mental distress and potential risk to his child.
According to the complainant, the grievance remains pending and is currently marked as “Not Processed Yet”, prompting concerns over delays in consumer redressal mechanisms.
Gupta said he has preserved photographs and videos of the allegedly contaminated product, the purchase invoice, screenshots of the consumer complaint, and email communications with the company as supporting evidence.
The allegations made by the complainant have not been independently verified. Nutri Being Pvt. Ltd. has not publicly responded to the claims regarding the alleged ₹5,000 settlement offer or the specific batch mentioned by the complainant.
The incident has once again raised questions about food safety, quality control in packaged food products, and the speed of grievance redressal for consumers reporting potential public health concerns.
