Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
PAUL India has faced a barrage of criticism on social media after a customer claimed he found a live worm inside a sandwich at its One Horizon Centre outlet in Gurugram, with several users questioning why the company had not publicly apologised.
In a statement on Monday, the French bakery and restaurant chain said it took food safety, hygiene and quality standards “extremely seriously” and that the incident did not reflect its standards. However, its statement did not include an apology, drawing further criticism online.
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“We at PAUL India take food safety, hygiene and quality standards extremely seriously. The matter reported at our One Horizon, Gurugram outlet does not reflect the standards we strive to uphold,” the company said.
“PAUL India maintains rigorous food safety, hygiene and compliance standards. We remain committed to upholding the highest standards and ensuring the best possible experience for all our customers,” it added.
Many social media users lashed out at PAUL and demanded it to apologise and take accountability for the incident.
“Where is the apology? Seems you guys are defensive,” one user wrote.
“But still no apology!!” another commented.
“What’s the purpose of this post? No apology? No accountability?” a third user asked.
“No apology?!” another user wrote.
Others wrote, “No regrets. No sorry. Have some shame” and “Apologise at least?”
Some users also questioned PAUL’s food safety practices. One comment said that in such a case, the licence of those who failed to follow food safety standards should be cancelled.
Another user claimed the chain’s food quality had deteriorated, writing, “Your food standards are terrible. From your breads to your meats, everything tastes off now. Have stopped eating at your outlets or ordering from you guys.”
LIVE WORM FOUND INSIDE SANDWICH
PAUL’s statement came days after a video surfaced on social media showing a white-coloured worm crawling inside a sandwich served at its Gurugram outlet. The footage showed people at the table appearing shocked after discovering the insect.
According to customer Sulabh Mathur who posted the video on Instagram, he visited PAUL at One Horizon Centre with his friends around 11 am on Friday (August 21) for breakfast. The group had ordered six to seven dishes, and Mathur said he had eaten around half of a sandwich when he noticed a live worm moving inside the bread.
He filmed the worm and shared the video on social media, where it quickly gained attention.
“Extremely disturbing and concerning. Food hygiene compromised. Customers, please be careful and vigilant about what you’re being served,” Mathur wrote on Instagram.
After the video gained attention, representatives of PAUL reportedly contacted Mathur through calls and messages and privately apologised for the incident. The restaurant management described the incident as unfortunate and said customer safety and trust were its priorities. PAUL also said it was conducting an internal investigation.
However, Mathur criticised the response from the restaurant authorities. He shared a screenshot of the communication from PAUL on social media and accused the restaurant of trying to address the incident with what he described as a prepared and routine response rather than adequately addressing its seriousness.
The company’s public statement subsequently drew further criticism from social media users, many of whom questioned why it had not issued an apology.
PAUL’s internal investigation is expected to examine how the worm ended up inside the sandwich and whether there was any lapse during the preparation, storage or handling of the food.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
