"Have Lost My Appetite": Mumbai Doctor Alleges Finding Dead Cockroach in Zepto Cafe Chole, Raising Food Safety Concerns

Mumbai doctor Dr. Srushti Bukane has alleged that she found a dead cockroach in chole ordered from Zepto Cafe after noticing it on her spoon while eating at her clinic. She shared the incident on Instagram after filing a complaint with the company, as Maharashtra's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continues statewide action against food safety violations under Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe.

Dr. Srushti Bukane said she ordered chole from Zepto Cafe while at her clinic because she had brought rice from home but did not have time to cook. In an Instagram video, she alleged that she spotted a small dead cockroach on her spoon just before taking another bite.

"I just received my parcel and the worst part is that I also received something that I did not order," Dr. Bukane said. She added that she noticed the insect only because she happened to look at her spoon before eating.

In the caption accompanying the post, Dr. Bukane wrote, "A dead cockroach at this time is highly diabolical. Utterly disgusted and honestly have lost my appetite." She said she had raised a complaint through Zepto's customer support and that an agent informed her the matter had been escalated. Tagging Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, she added, "@tukaram_ias Sir, only you can do something about it," calling the incident "unacceptable."

Finding a cockroach in ready-to-eat food may point to lapses in hygiene or pest control during preparation or storage. Such incidents often raise concerns about cleanliness in commercial kitchens. Speaking to MedBound Times on food safety, Dr. Deepika Bishnoi, MD Community Medicine, said,

"Rapid urbanization, increasing consumption of ready-to-eat foods, street foods, online food delivery, and global food trade have further increased opportunities for contamination."

In her Instagram video, Dr. Srushti Bukane said she had experienced similar incidents before. "I looked because this has happened to me a couple of times in the past," she said.

She further added, "This happens on a very frequent basis. We don't realise it. Maybe people just don't pay attention as much, but I think we should. It was just by pure luck that I happened to look at my spoon." She urged people to check their meals carefully before eating, especially when distracted.

Responding to Dr. Srushti Bukane's Instagram post, Zepto wrote, "This isn't the experience we aim to deliver, and I'd like to get this sorted for you. Could you please share your order details and contact number via DM? Once we have that, we'll look into it right away." The company sought her order details to investigate the allegation.

The video also drew reactions from several social media users, some of whom claimed they had faced similar issues with food ordered through delivery platforms. One user wrote, "I have had the same experience. Ordered idli-sambar from @zeptonow... there were many small dead cockroaches in it. Have never ordered from them ever since.” Others urged stricter hygiene practices, regular pest control, and better-quality checks at cloud kitchens.

Also see: McDonald’s Outlet in Jaipur Warned After Food Safety Inspection Finds Reused Oil and Rotten Tomatoes

The allegation comes as the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA), led by Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, continues its crackdown on food safety violations across the state. The incident has also renewed scrutiny of hygiene practices at cloud kitchens and food delivery outlets.

The incident comes amid Maharashtra FDA's ongoing crackdown on food safety violations and has renewed attention on hygiene practices at cloud kitchens and food delivery outlets.

(Rh/TP/MSM)