Live Worms Found in Cheese Toast at Kalyaninagar Irani Café, Family Falls Sick: FDA Launches Probe

A Pune family fell sick after finding live worms in cheese toast at Kalyaninagar Irani Café. FDA seizes samples and begins investigation.

Pune, October 06, 2025: A shocking food safety incident has rocked Pune’s dining scene after a family discovered live worms inside a cheese toast served at a popular Irani Café in Kalyaninagar. The family, which included two young children, fell ill soon after consuming the contaminated food, leading to vomiting and fever. The incident has sparked outrage among citizens and prompted the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to launch a formal investigation into the café’s hygiene practices and food supply chain.

According to reports, the incident took place around 1:00 pm on Saturday when advocate Samuel Gode visited the café with his wife and two sons. The family ordered a cheese toast and a chicken mayo sandwich. Soon after consuming half the toast, Gode’s seven-year-old son complained of something moving in his mouth. On checking the sandwich, the family was horrified to find live worms crawling inside the melted cheese. Shocked and disgusted, Gode immediately confronted the café staff. However, instead of showing concern or offering an apology, the staff reportedly dismissed the complaint and merely told the waiter to replace the item — an action that further infuriated the family.

Later that evening, Gode’s family began experiencing severe symptoms of food poisoning. Both children started vomiting, and the younger child, just 1.5 years old, developed a high fever. The family consulted a doctor who confirmed mild food poisoning and prescribed medication. While the older child recovered with treatment, the younger one continued to have fever even the following day, causing serious concern for the family. This incident not only exposed lapses in hygiene but also raised deeper questions about food safety compliance in Pune’s eateries.

The café owner, Amir Khourji, later confirmed that the restaurant had received two spoiled boxes of cheese, one of which had already been opened and used before staff realized it was contaminated with worms and mould. Khourji claimed that the defective stock was immediately discarded and that the supplier was informed about the issue. He added that the café sources its cheese from a reputed national distributor, who has now been contacted for clarification. Despite these assurances, the fact that spoiled ingredients were served to customers reflects a clear breakdown in internal quality checks and food safety supervision.

Following the viral spread of the incident and public outrage on social media, the FDA Pune team, led by Assistant Commissioner Syed Imran Hashmi, conducted a surprise inspection at the Kalyaninagar café. During the raid, officials seized 11 kilograms of cheese worth ₹6,325 and 6.3 kilograms of bread worth ₹900 for laboratory testing. The samples have been sent for analysis, and if contamination is confirmed, the café could face legal action under India’s food safety laws. The FDA’s swift intervention underscores the seriousness of the violation and highlights the growing demand for stronger food safety enforcement in Pune’s rapidly expanding restaurant sector.

The incident has also renewed public attention toward hygiene standards in the city’s eateries. Just a few months earlier, Pune witnessed another disturbing case when a customer found a shard of glass inside a bun maska at a café on FC Road. These repeated lapses reveal a worrying pattern of negligence and inadequate monitoring across the food industry. Experts have stressed that restaurants must conduct regular quality audits, maintain transparent sourcing, and ensure strict temperature and storage control of perishable items such as cheese and meat.

For consumers, the Kalyaninagar case serves as a stark reminder to remain cautious while eating out, particularly when children are involved. It also highlights the importance of reporting such incidents to authorities to ensure that corrective action is taken. While unrelated to major national issues such as the Air India Mumbai-London flight delays or the West Asia crisis involving Iran and Israel, this case echoes the same core issue — the erosion of public trust due to lack of accountability and negligence in essential services. Whether it’s aviation or food safety, citizens expect and deserve better oversight.

As the FDA awaits laboratory test results, Pune’s hospitality industry is under the spotlight. If found guilty, the café may face heavy penalties, license suspension, or even criminal prosecution under the Food Safety and Standards Act. For other restaurants, this incident serves as a strong warning — in an age where one viral video can destroy reputations overnight, hygiene negligence can cost both lives and livelihoods.

In conclusion, the worm-infested cheese toast case is not just an isolated food safety lapse — it’s a wake-up call. From supplier accountability to café management, every stakeholder in the food chain must prioritize health and hygiene. Pune’s food regulators, too, must tighten inspections to restore public faith. Food is not merely a business; it’s a responsibility — and breaches like this cannot be allowed to repeat.

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