Expired Maggi Bought at Vishal Mega Mart Leaves Customer With Food Poisoning; Court Awards INR 2.8 Lakh

A district consumer disputes redressal commission in Andhra Pradesh has ordered retail chain Vishal Mega Mart to pay Rs 2.8 lakh in penalties and compensation after a customer suffered food poisoning from eating an expired packet of instant noodles. In its July 10 ruling, the commission termed the sale of expired food items a "grave violation of consumer rights" that poses a significant risk to public health.

The case dates back to March 20, 2025, when P. Sravan Kumar, a resident of Yemmiganur in the Kurnool district, purchased two packets of Maggi Atta Instant Noodles from a local Vishal Mega Mart outlet. According to the court order, Kumar consumed the noodles that evening and shortly after developed severe symptoms, including a fever, vomiting, and acute abdominal pain. A nearby hospital subsequently diagnosed him with food poisoning. Minor Child Falls Ill After Eating Expired Noodles From Reliance Store In Kangra; Consumer Gets INR 20,000 Compensation.

Upon checking the second, unopened packet of noodles, Kumar discovered that the product’s expiration date was March 18, 2025-two days before the store sold it to him. Seeking accountability for his medical expenses and physical suffering, Kumar sent a formal legal notice to the retail giant in December 2025. After the store failed to respond, he approached the district consumer commission to seek compensation and punitive damages.

Despite being officially served notice by the commission, representatives for Vishal Mega Mart did not appear in court or file a defense response to counter the allegations. The consumer bench, led by President Karanam Kishore Kumar and Member S. Nazima Kausar, noted that the complainant's evidence—which included the expired noodles packet, the original purchase receipt, digital transaction records, and hospital prescriptions—went entirely unchallenged.

"In the absence of any rebuttal evidence from the opposite parties, this commission finds no reason to disbelieve the version of the complainant," the bench stated, adding that selling expired food products reflects "gross negligence" and a clear deficiency in service. Faridabad Shocker: 22-Year-Old Woman Dies Mysteriously After Eating Instant Noodles and Ice Cream in Dinner in Haryana.

The commission expressed broader concerns regarding retail safety standards, noting that the incident could indicate a wider operational failure. The bench observed that the transaction gave rise to a serious apprehension that other defective or expired items may have been sold to unsuspecting shoppers. Consequently, the court ruled that the retailer must not retain profits gained from selling compromised goods. The bench ordered Vishal Mega Mart to pay Kumar Rs 25,000 for mental agony and Rs 5,000 to cover his litigation expenses.

Additionally, the retailer was ordered to deposit Rs 2,50,000 as punitive damages directly into the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to be utilized for public welfare. The store has been given 45 days to comply with the directive, after which a 9% annual interest rate will apply to the unpaid sum.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 14, 2026 06:00 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).