A city consumer forum has ordered a private bakery to pay compensation of Rs.10,000 to a person for selling a fungus-infested cake. It also directed the bakery to pay Rs.165 to him for the cost of the cake.
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Chennai(South), comprising its president V. Gopal and member L. Deenadayalan, also ordered the company to pay Rs.5,000 towards the cost of the complaint filed by the Tamil Nadu Consumer Protection Organisation represented by its president.
According to the complaint, Chandrakanth purchased the cake from the Kottivakkam branch of Adyar Bakery, for celebrating his father’s birthday on March 7, 2008.
When the cake was cut, fungus was noticed.
Mr. Chandrakanth approached the Tamilnadu Consumer Protection Organisation.
Unfit for human consumption
The consumer organisation sent the cake sample to Food Analysis Laboratory, Kings Institute, Guindy. The sample was found to contain aspergillus niger, which rendered the cake unfit for human consumption.
The bakery said that unsold cakes were taken back the next day and not sold by recycling them to any outlet.
In its order, the forum stated: “The opposite party has not produced any contra evidence to the documents produced by the complainant. The act of the opposite party in selling a decayed cake amounts to deficiency in goods.”
The forum also ordered the bakery to pay Rs.450 to the complainant as charges towards obtaining the analysis report.
