Food safety in India has long been a concern, with many customers raising red flags about poor hygiene in restaurants and kitchens. And now, a fresh incident has brought the issue back into the spotlight. On May 14, 2025, a customer who ordered biryani through Zomato was left shocked and disgusted after allegedly finding a dead cockroach in the food.
The biryani had been delivered from Sugar Restaurant, and the customer didn’t keep calm at all as he was absolutely furious in the first place. He took to X (formerly Twitter), sharing photos of the contaminated food and demanding accountability.
“14th May I placed a biryani order on Zomato from Sugar Restaurant. There is a cockroach in the food. I will report this to higher authorities. What kind of food are you serving to the customer? If you refund this order amount, the problem is not going to be solved. Order ID: 6873575128”
The post quickly gained attention online, sparking outrage among users and raising questions about how such incidents are still happening. While some supported the customer, others expressed worry about the lack of stringent food safety standards in India—especially when it comes to food delivery services.
While the customer demanded action beyond a simple refund, Zomato responded to the post, expressing regret and promising a proper investigation into the matter.
“Hi there, we’re absolutely shocked to hear about this. We can’t begin to imagine how upsetting this must have been for you, and we sincerely apologize. We are taking this matter very seriously. Please allow us some time, so we can investigate and take appropriate action. Your safety and satisfaction are our top priorities.”
The post appears to have been removed, possibly by the customer, but the impact remains. Incidents like this point to a larger issue—how food safety regulations in India often fall short, and how consumers are left vulnerable due to gaps in implementation and monitoring.
While food apps like Zomato do take customer complaints seriously, the real concern lies in the kitchen hygiene of many restaurants. Without stricter inspections and stronger action from food authorities, such disturbing incidents could continue to occur.
This isn’t just about one order or one refund. It’s about building trust in a system where food safety should never be compromised.