The Cockroach In The Pulav: As S Pune Citizen's What You Must Know! Food Safety And Complaints

By Prashant for PuneriPages.in

We’ve all been there—long day, growling stomach, you pull out your phone and order your go-to comfort food. For me, it’s pulav. So imagine the horror when you eagerly dig in, and suddenly… there’s something dark and crunchy in your spoon. A cockroach. Dead. Right in your food.

That’s not a metaphor. It actually happened to someone in Pune who ordered from a restaurant in Hinjawadi. And what’s worse? Even after complaining, the restaurant kept serving food, and the FDA (yeah, the actual government body that’s supposed to take action) didn’t move fast enough.

Honestly, it made my blood boil. But instead of just ranting, I decided to do what I do best—put together this guide so none of us feel helpless the next time something like this happens.

Understand Who’s in Charge of What

Let’s break down who’s supposed to do what in the food delivery triangle:

The Restaurant – Their kitchen, their mess. The cockroach? 100% their responsibility.
The Food Delivery App (Zomato/Swiggy) – They’re the middleman. They should process your refund and, if it’s not the first time, consider booting that restaurant off the app.
The FDA (Food & Drug Administration) – They’re the law. They can inspect, fine, or even shut down the restaurant. But as we saw in this case, they don’t always act quickly. That’s where you come in.

Don’t Panic. Do This Instead.

I get it—your first instinct is to gag and chuck the food in the trash. Don’t. Here’s what to do:

Stop eating. Immediately.
Take clear, well-lit photos and videos. Capture the cockroach (ugh), the container, the bill—everything.
Don’t throw away the food. It’s your proof.

File a Complaint in the App

This is your first step, not your only step.

Open your food delivery app.
Go to your order and tap “Help” or “Support.”
Upload all your photos/videos and explain what happened.
You’ll usually get a refund and a generic apology. Nice, but not enough.

Bring in the Big Guns (FDA)

Here’s how to take your complaint beyond just getting your money back:

Email the Pune FDA. Be clear, attach your evidence, mention the restaurant name, time, and order ID.
WhatsApp complaint. If they’ve got a number (they usually do), send your info there too.
Go in person. If you’re serious, this really drives the point home. They’re more likely to take you seriously.

Post your story on Twitter/X.
Tag: @Zomato, @Swiggy, @PuneCityPolice, @FDAIndia, @PunePulse. Add screenshots and be polite but firm.

Pro tip: A tweet with receipts (photos, order details, etc.) gets way more traction than just ranting.