Bengaluru resident’s lawsuit against supermarket results in Rs 10k compensation for selling expired oats

A Bengaluru man took a legal lawsuit against a renowned supermarket for selling expired oats, resulting in both a refund and compensation of Rs 10,000. Through this experience, he gained insight into the importance of scrutinizing product expiry dates diligently. It became apparent that extra labels affixed onto food packaging should always be monitored during purchases, as they might conceal previous expiration dates that have been re-labeled.

On September 24, 2021, Parappa, a resident of Joripet, visited the Namdhari supermarket located on 10th Main near Ashok Pillar, Jayanagar I Block, with the intention of making purchases. Among the items he acquired was a packet of Post Honey Bunches of Oats, priced at Rs 925, according to a report by the Times of India.

After consuming the product, Parappa fell ill and subsequently sought medical assistance. As a result, the 49-year-old decided to examine the packaging of the product, focusing on its manufacturing and expiry dates. To his astonishment, he discovered that the product had been relabeled with new dates, concealing the original label which indicated that the product had already expired.

In an effort to express his dissatisfaction, Parappa initially reached out to the supermarket staff; however, his attempts to elicit a favorable response were unsuccessful. Subsequently, on November 7, 2021, he proceeded to send a legal notice to Namdhari Agro Fresh Private Limited, citing unfair trade practices as the basis for his action.

In 2022, Parappa took his case to the Bengaluru I Additional District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission. During the proceedings, his legal representative presented his arguments. On the opposing side, the counsel representing Namdhari Agro Fresh Private Limited countered the allegations, contending that they were baseless accusations directed at a company with an extensive history in the industry.

The legal proceedings reportedly extended for approximately nine months, during which the court acknowledged that the complainant had presented credible evidence highlighting the tampering of the oats packet. Specifically, false manufacturing and expiry dates had been superimposed on the original dates.

On August 8, 2023, the court ruled in favor of Parappa, ordering the company to reimburse the customer with the full amount of Rs 925 and provide compensation of Rs 5,000 to address the health issues he suffered. Additionally, the court mandated the company to allocate an extra Rs 5,000 to cover Parappa’s legal expenses. These payments are to be settled within a two-month timeframe, commencing from the date of the court’s ruling.

Also, have a look at : Bengaluru woman alleged job rejection based on skin tone sparks controversy