A Zomato user from Noida, Satish Sarawagi, found a disposable plastic glove inside a sandwich he ordered from Salad Days, a popular delivery-only food chain in Delhi NCR. The user shared photos and a complaint on X, tagging Zomato, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), and media outlets.
Zomato expressed shock over the serious hygiene concern and promised to investigate the matter with their restaurant partner. Salad Days has addressed the incident seriously and has launched a thorough investigation with their quality assurance team. The kitchen where the sandwich was prepared has been flagged for urgent review. The restaurant has requested the customer to share contact details privately to coordinate directly and ensure the issue is resolved properly.
“We’re taking this matter extremely seriously and have immediately launched a thorough investigation with our quality assurance team. This kitchen has been flagged for urgent review. Please DM us your contact details so we can coordinate directly and ensure this is resolved properly,” said Salad Days.
Hygiene Lapse Raises Online Food Safety Concerns
Sarawagi had ordered two sandwiches, a broccoli, corn and basil pesto sandwich and a smoked cottage cheese and pepper sandwich, through the Zomato app. On receiving the order, he discovered a disposable plastic glove placed inside one sandwich, which sparked his alarm over food preparation practices and hygiene in the restaurant.
Gloves are supposed to be disposed of after use, not included in food items, making this an unacceptable oversight. The incident quickly went viral on social media, drawing public attention to hygiene standards in the online food delivery sector. Zomato Care responded quickly, acknowledging the complaint and assuring the user they would discuss the issue with Salad Days.
“Hi Satish, we’re absolutely shocked to hear about this. We can’t begin to imagine how upsetting this must have been for you. Please allow us some time so that we can take this up with the restaurant partner, we’ll get in touch with you to discuss this further,” said Zomato.
Context of Hygiene Challenges in Food Delivery
As online food delivery continues to grow in India, ensuring strict hygiene and food safety measures remains vital to maintaining consumer trust. Incidents like this highlight potential vulnerabilities in food handling, packaging, and quality control at some outlets. Delivery aggregators increasingly promise improved oversight and customer service but rely on partner restaurants to adhere to regulations.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has been tagged for awareness and potential action. Such occurrences underscore the need for vigilant monitoring and accountability in the booming food delivery ecosystem.
General Expert Advise: Safety Tips When Ordering Food Online
For the general public, here are some expert-advised food safety tips to keep in mind when ordering food delivery:
- Always check the packaging integrity of delivered food. Ensure that containers are sealed properly without tears or openings that could expose food to contamination.
- Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold during delivery and before consumption. If possible, transfer perishable items immediately to the refrigerator or heat them properly.
- Avoid accepting food that appears damaged, has an unusual smell, or has foreign objects inside. If you find anything suspicious, inform the restaurant and delivery platform immediately.
- Wash hands thoroughly before eating or handling food delivered from outside to reduce the risk of transferring germs or contaminants.
- Prefer vendors and delivery services that use tamper-proof packaging and maintain hygiene certifications.
- Report hygiene or safety issues on food delivery platforms to hold restaurants accountable and protect other consumers.
- Opt for trusted and reviewed restaurants and delivery services, and avoid orders from places with poor hygiene reputations.
Being vigilant, informed, and proactive helps consumers safeguard their health in the growing and convenient food delivery ecosystem.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The Logical Indian stresses the importance of food safety and hygiene as non-negotiable pillars of public health and consumer confidence. While technology brings convenience, it is incumbent upon restaurants, delivery platforms, and regulators to ensure standards are never compromised.
Transparency and prompt action on complaints foster trust and reliability. As consumers, vigilance and speaking up against such incidents play a crucial role in driving change.
