Bilaspur family discovers live worm with eggs inside chocolate bar, plans legal action

A family in Himachal Pradesh’s Bilaspur district claimed on Monday that they found a live worm with eggs inside a chocolate bar manufactured by a well-known company , prompting serious concerns over food safety. The incident occurred in the village of Mandi Manwa in the Bilaspur Sadar area.

Ramesh Chand Kaundal, a resident and father in the family, said he purchased a five-rupee chocolate from a local market for his child, Shiva. “When I opened the wrapper for my child, I was shocked to see a live worm crawling inside the chocolate and eggs on it,” Kaundal said. “Thankfully I noticed it before the child consumed it. If he had eaten it, he could have contracted a fatal disease , or his life could have been in danger.” He described the discovery as a serious health hazard and said the product, which showed an expiry date of May 2026 and bore a code number, was otherwise valid. Kaundal added that he has preserved the chocolate and will send it for testing as part of legal action against the company.

Mahesh Kashyap, Assistant Commissioner of the Food Safety Department , said the matter would be investigated if the family’s complaint was found to be true. “If this kind of incident has taken place, the matter will be investigated and the chocolate sample will be taken for necessary action,” he stated, emphasizing that the administration would not allow such items to be sold and would take strict action against suppliers and manufacturers if violations are discovered.

The case has drawn attention at a time when food safety remains a concern for consumers of packaged goods across India. Previous incidents involving worms or larvae in chocolate have gone viral on social media, leading to public uproar and calls for stronger enforcement of food safety standards. In one earlier case, a consumer found a moving worm in a chocolate bar purchased in Hyderabad and questioned the quality checks in place for products nearing expiry.

Local authorities are expected to conduct laboratory analysis of the preserved sample to determine the nature and source of the contamination and to decide on appropriate enforcement under food safety regulations.