Hershey’s vs Zepto vs consumer: Internet raises stink about blame game over dead mouse
A debate has broken out in the Instagram comment section of one Prami Sridhar who claimed to have found a mouse carcass in a bottle of Hershey's chocolate syrup
After a woman posted her ordeal on Instagram about finding a dead mouse inside a bottle of Hershey’s chocolate syrup, the confectionery giant reacted to the complaint with an apology and an offer of assistance. Delivery platform Zepto has also caught a few strays after the customer tagged it in its complaint.
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However, the controversy has sparked a debate over who should be held responsible for the fiasco: the company, the customer or the delivery partner.
Prami Sridhar posted a video a week ago filming herself emptying a bottle of Hershey’s syrup containing a mouse carcass. She said she found a few strands of fur in a teaspoon of the syrup and on emptying the bottle, found a dead mouse in it.
She said that three members of her family tasted the syrup and one fell ill.
Her comment section itself is rife with angry users denouncing the brand. But a section of users also questioned her decision to tag the delivery partner Zepto. If the bottle was sealed, as she claimed, then the fault lies with the manufacturer, said some users.
“How is it possible for a mouse to get inside the sealed products,” said a user.
“As a zepto delivery Boy , if seal is not open it's the brand's problem , you can sue Hershey's for this . Do visit a doctor and get appropriate treatment as rats can spread rat fever and many ! , take these actions also you can call the zepto store of your area and file a complaint,” noted one.
“The item reached to you in a seal packed condition. The problem is with the manufacturing brand not with delivery service app. Rather than criticizing Zepto, file a complaint in the consumer court against Hersheys,” wrote another in support of Zepto.
“Zepto is a delivery app service. Complaint should be made about the Hershey,” said another.
“It's manufacturer's problem. If the product came with its seal closed, zepto is not responsible this,” wrote a user.
Others also noted that Sridhar got the entire episode filmed and wondered how she knew that there would be a dead rat inside. They also noted that the video cuts away for a few seconds, missing the exact moment when the rat “fell” into the cup.
“How did they know they would find a dead rat in the syrup? They were ready filming it already!!” a user commented.
“Bottle mai se niklte hue to dikhaya nhi apne mouse apki bat pr kese viswas krega koi ..mouse direct usme aa gya (You didn’t show the mouse dropping out of the bottle. How do we trust your word?)” wrote one user.
Some also hinted at mischief angle given the increasing instances of dead animals found in packaged food.
“This idiocracy is below standards @pramisridhar. Don't spoil brand names who have done so hard to build a successful business. Please understand it takes decades to build an empire like it. Duping people who are believing you for fun here are equally blindfolded. Maybe, seeking some fame like you. @hersheysindia @hersheys Please take immediate legal action against these folks for the ultimate defamation and goodwill damage they have done. Such practices should stop at an immediate basis,” a user noted.
“Not defending the company but recently I have been seeing more videos like this pop up on my feed since the finger in the ice cream affair. Is it possible that some unscrupulous people are purposely doing these sorts of things to gain social media clout and popularity using the inertia of India's awakening to food safety and standards?” said another.
The Hershey Company has already responded to her post with an apology: "Hi there, we are very sorry to see this. Please send us the UPC and manufacturing code from the bottle to consumercare@hersheys.com with the reference number 11082163 so one of our team members can assist you!"
Since last weeks, there have been multiple instances of users reporting presence of hazardous things and dead animals among other things in food products. It started when a Mumbai-based doctor found a human finger in Yummo brand ice cream. Another consumer said that she found a centipede in her tub of Amul ice cream. A couple also found a live cobra in an Amazon package. And most recently, a fried frog was found in a packet of Balaji Wafers.
