A consumer commission in Delhi has directed a Kirana store to refund the cost of ‘defective’ Soan Papdi and pay Rs 15,000 compensation to a customer after finding that it had sold ‘stale’ and allegedly worm-infested sweets. The commission held that consumers purchasing edible products are entitled to expect food that is wholesome, safe and meets prescribed quality standards. President Monika Aggarwal Srivastava and members Dr Rajender Dhar and Ritu Garodia observed that supplying food products that appear to be stale exposes consumers to a potential health hazard. He sought a refund of Rs 5,625, reimbursement of expenses incurred on replacement gifts, compensation for mental agony, litigation costs and Rs 1 lakh towards loss of reputation. TakeawayConsumers have the right to expect food products sold in the market to be fresh, safe and properly labelled.