Gurgaon: A live worm was allegedly found crawling inside a sandwich served at PAUL Cafe at One Horizon Centre, raising questions over food safety and hygiene standards at the outlet.Customer Sulabh Mathur said he had visited the restaurant with friends for breakfast on Friday around 11am and had ordered six to seven dishes. After eating half the sandwich, he noticed a live worm inside the bread and recorded a video of the incident, which later went viral on social media.PAUL’s management apologised to him over a call and message and said it was treating the matter seriously and conducting an internal investigation. Food safety officer Sandeep told TOI that the department will inspect the outlet to examine hygiene conditions at the premises, food handling and storage practices, and other food safety requirements.Speaking to TOI, Mathur said the incident raised wider concerns about food safety, particularly as such establishments are frequented by families and children. “They did apologise to me but this is not just about an apology. A live, crawling worm being found inside food. Govt agencies certainly have a role in checking food safety standards, but restaurants and cafes also have to take responsibility for the food they serve and the safety of their customers,” he said.He also claimed that after he posted the video, several people contacted him, sharing similar experiences at restaurants and cafes.“Such complaints need to be taken seriously, and accountability cannot be left only to govt authorities. Restaurants and cafes must also be held responsible for maintaining proper hygiene, food storage, preparation and quality-control standards,” Mathur said.Mathur shared a screenshot of the restaurant’s response and alleged that the issue was being handled through a routine or prepared reply rather than with the seriousness it deserved.Following the incident, the restaurant has replaced its entire staff team at the city outlet. An investigation is under way to establish how the worm entered the sandwich and whether there were lapses in food preparation, storage, hygiene or quality-control procedures.In an official statement, PAUL said, “We at PAUL India take food safety, hygiene and quality standards extremely seriously. The matter reported at our One Horizon outlet does not reflect the standards we strive to uphold. 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.”
