Consumer forum orders Cadbury India to pay Rs 50,000 fine for mouldy Dairy Milk

New Delhi : Cadbury India's parent company, Mondelez India Foods Private Ltd, has been fined by the Consumer Forum of Guntur, Andhra Pradesh for supplying bacteria-contaminated chocolates to a consumer. 

The forum has ordered the chocolate manufacturer to pay Rs 50,000 for causing mental agony along with Rs 5,000 for procedural charges and Rs 90 for two chocolates to the complainant, Darla Anupama.

According to reports, the complainant bought two Cadbury Dairy Milk (roast almond) chocolates from a local shop on July 17, 2016, only to later find out that the confectionery had mould. 

Anupama lodged a complaint to Mondelez through a mail and attached the relevant photographs. A company representative immediately got in touch with her and urged her not to blow up the issue. He also took the samples of the chocolates, Times of India reported. 

Later, Anupama lodged a complaint with the Consumer Forum on August 6 last year, as she felt betrayed and sought a relief of Rs 5 lakh for the mental agony caused to her.

The forum summoned both the manufacturer and retailer. The retailer argued that he had no role in the quality of the product as he sold a sealed product and the forum concurred with his version.

After considering the facts of the case, the forum held Mondelez responsible for deficiency in service and directed it to pay Rs 50,000.

Incidentally, it is not the first time that Cadbury chocolate has been in controversy for a similar issue. 

In October 2003, just a month before Diwali, customers in Mumbai complained about finding worms in Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolates. Quick to respond, the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration seized the chocolate stocks manufactured at Cadbury's Pune plant.

In response, the company had to revamp the entire packaging system for its chocolates in India and launch a massive ad campaign, featuring Amitabh Bachchan.