Archive · 30 Sep 2026
Pune Woman Reports Worms in Sweets, Raises Food Safety Concerns
A Pune woman said she found worms in a box of dry-fruit sweets.
She bought the sweets from Hariba Sweets for Raksha Bandhan gifts.
The box arrived on August 11 and was opened on September 5.
She said the sweets had been kept on a dining table in their original container.
Almost half the sweets had already been eaten before the worms were found.
Toddlers in the household also ate some of them.
She reported that someone later complained of stomach pain.
The woman said she contacted the shop and was offered an exchange or refund for one box.
She wants people to be careful and the company to review its food-safety practices.
Anita Manoj Lodha alleged that worms were found inside dry-fruit sweets bought from Hariba Sweets.
She ordered the sweets on August 6 and received them on August 11 for Raksha Bandhan return favours.
The box was opened on September 5 after being stored in its original container on a dining table.
Lodha said nearly half the sweets, including some eaten by toddlers, had been consumed before the worms were noticed.
She said Hariba Sweets offered to exchange the box or refund its value, while she urged improved food-safety practices.
- Who
- Anita Manoj Lodha, a Pune resident and business owner, made the allegation against Hariba Sweets.
- What
- Lodha reported finding worms in dry-fruit sweets and raised concerns about food safety and storage.
- When
- The sweets were ordered on August 6, received on August 11, and opened on September 5.
- Where
- The sweets were purchased from Hariba Sweets and stored at Lodha's home in Pune's Gangadham area near Market Yard.
- Why
- Lodha said she wanted to alert consumers and urged Hariba Sweets to examine its food-safety practices.
Consumer's allegation
Reported business response
Condition of the sweets
Consumer's allegation
Lodha said worms were found inside the sweets and at the bottom of the box, and described the incident as a food-safety concern.
Reported business response
Hariba Sweets was reported to have offered an exchange or refund for one box; the article does not provide a further statement from the business about the alleged infestation.
Appropriate follow-up
Consumer's allegation
Lodha urged the company to review its food-safety practices and said she wanted to warn other consumers.
Reported business response
The reported offer to replace the box or refund its value represented the establishment's stated response in the account; no additional corrective action was reported.
- Buyer
- Anita Manoj Lodha
- Seller
- Hariba Sweets
- Product
- Dry-fruit sweets made with ingredients including almonds and cashews
- Order date
- August 6
- Delivery date
- August 11
- Discovery date
- September 5
- Reported response
- An offer to exchange the box or refund the value of one box