Food poisoning from Alfaham; Kerala hotel ordered to pay ₹96,500 compensation within 30 days

Ranni: The Pathanamthitta District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has ordered a hotel to pay ₹96,500 in compensation to a customer who suffered food poisoning after consuming stale alfaham. The order was issued on a petition filed by Reena Thomas, a resident of Vechoochira in Ranni.

The compensation is to be recovered from Ashish John Mathew, proprietor of King’s Biriyani Cafe at Chethongara in Ranni, and its manager.

On October 21, 2025, Reena Thomas and her sister visited the hotel and ordered alfaham. After noticing a difference in taste, they complained to the waiter. However, the hotel authorities allegedly ignored the complaint and collected a bill of ₹740. Reena began feeling unwell while returning home with the leftover food packed as takeaway.

She sought treatment at private hospitals in Vechoochira and later in Kanjirappally. According to the complaint, medical tests confirmed that she had contracted a Salmonella infection caused by stale food.

The hotel owner refused to even reimburse the medical expenses,forcing her to approach the commission.

After examining the serious lapses on the part of the hotel authorities, a bench comprising commission president Babychan Vechoochira and member Nishad Thankappan pronounced the order.

The commission directed the respondents to pay ₹36,500 towards medical expenses, ₹50,000 as compensation and ₹10,000 towards litigation costs, totalling ₹96,500, within 30 days.