Zepto under fire after customer finds insects in Meat99 Chicken
A Zepto customer’s shocking discovery of insects in packaged chicken has sparked widespread concerns over food safety on online grocery platforms. Ahtsham Malik, a content creator, shared an Instagram video detailing his unpleasant experience with ‘Meat 99’ chicken ordered from Zepto.
According to Malik, the chicken appeared normal at first, apart from a slight unusual odor. However, upon cooking, he found insects inside, prompting him to warn others about potential quality issues. His video quickly went viral, drawing mixed reactions from the public.
Public reaction: Quality concerns vs. skepticism
While many users echoed Malik’s concerns, sharing their own negative experiences with online meat purchases, others took a lighter approach, joking about ‘extra protein’. Some critics, however, argued that isolated incidents shouldn’t be overblown into corporate negligence accusations.
Zepto’s response: Damage control & safety reassurances
Following the backlash, Zepto issued an official statement reaffirming its commitment to quality control. The company stated that no prior complaints had been recorded against ‘Meat 99’ and, as a precautionary measure, delisted the product from its platform.
With the rise of instant grocery delivery, this incident highlights the urgent need for stricter food safety protocols. Consumers are now questioning whether online food vendors will face stricter regulatory scrutiny in the near future.
A spokesperson from Zepto responded:
“At Zepto, user safety and product quality are our top priorities. Following an escalation regarding a specific meat product, we took immediate action by instructing our sellers to conduct a thorough quality check.
- Quality checks were conducted across the entire batch, including the specific product in question, and no concerns were identified.
- We cross-checked platform records for any similar escalations and found no prior complaints against this brand.
- An audit of the brand’s facility were conducted and were not alerted to any lapses or mishaps in their process audits.
That said, given the seriousness of the escalation and our zero-tolerance policy towards quality lapses, our seller network has made the proactive decision to delist the brand from our platform. We remain committed to working only with sellers and brands that meet the highest standards of safety and quality, ensuring our users receive only the best.”
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