A disturbing case of food contamination was reported on Thursday morning at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport. A customer dining at the Rameshwaram Cafe outlet discovered a worm in his pongal dish, sparking widespread concern and backlash on social media.
The customer, Loknath, had paid Rs 300 for the meal, expecting a clean and quality breakfast. However, shortly after the dish was served, he noticed the worm and immediately brought it to the attention of the staff. According to him, the cafe employees initially downplayed his complaint and attempted to avoid taking responsibility.
Loknath stated, “It was only after I started recording a video of the worm inside the food and the staff members’ response that they started apologising.” The video, which has since gone viral online, shows the worm clearly visible on a spoonful of pongal. During the video, another diner is seen discussing with Loknath the possibility of escalating the issue by reaching out to the cafe’s owners via Instagram. In a moment caught on camera, a staff member can be heard asking, “Have I spoken in an inappropriate way?”
Cafe Refunded the Cost of the Pongal
Following the confrontation, the cafe refunded the cost of the dish. But the incident triggered a broader discussion online, with many users demanding accountability from the brand and highlighting the need for better hygiene oversight in high-traffic locations like airports.
In response to the growing public outrage, the co-owners of Rameshwaram Cafe issued statements to clarify their stance. Raghavendra Rao noted, “We are trying to get in touch with the customer. Seems like he is travelling.” His partner Divya Rao raised doubts about the authenticity of the complaint, saying, “We have seen such incidents in the past where customers have taken worms out of their pockets and used it to dent the image of the brand. We have earlier caught it on CCTV too. At the airport, we don’t have access to that. We need to look into it. But I am sure this is just one such incident to dent our name in the market. We release an official statement soon.”
The Rameshwaram Cafe, a popular South Indian quick-service brand, operates multiple branches in Bengaluru including locations in JP Nagar, Brookfield, Rajaji Nagar, and the newly launched 100 Feet Road outlet in Indira Nagar. It also runs a branch in Hyderabad’s Madhapur and is planning additional outlets in that city. The brand has clarified it has no current expansion plans for Chennai or Kerala.
Rameshwaram Cafe Faced Past Probe Over Expired Food at Hyderabad Outlets
This is not the first time the cafe has faced scrutiny. In May of the previous year, its Hyderabad outlets were investigated by Telangana’s Food Safety Department. Inspectors found numerous expired and mislabelled products, including 100 kg of urad dal dated March 2024, 10 kg of expired curd, and eight litres of expired milk.
Meanwhile, Karnataka was recently shaken by another tragic food safety case, unrelated to the cafe. In Raichur district’s K Timmapur village, three members of a family—including a father and two daughters—died after consuming contaminated home-cooked food. The meal reportedly included brinjal curry made with vegetables freshly picked from a farm where pesticides had been sprayed just days earlier. Surviving members of the family are currently undergoing treatment at Raichur Institute of Medical Sciences, while authorities are investigating possible pesticide poisoning.
Both incidents have reignited serious concerns around food safety—whether in commercial kitchens or home environments—and highlighted the urgent need for stricter enforcement and awareness around food hygiene practices.
