In a startling revelation, the DNA fingerprinting report from the forensic science laboratory in Kalina of Mumbai has confirmed that the human finger found in an ice cream by a Malad-based doctor earlier this month belongs to an employee of the ice cream manufacturing unit.
Earlier, thetheorist.in had reported that the severed finger may be that of a factory worker.
Shocking Discovery by Malad Doctor
The incident came to light when Dr. Brandon Serrao, a 26-year-old from Malad West in Mumbai, discovered a severed human finger in an ice cream cone he had ordered online on June 12. Following his complaint, the Malad police swiftly launched an investigation into the origins of the gruesome find.
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Identifying the Source
The police investigation traced the origin of the finger to the Fortune Dairy factory in Indapur, Pune district, which produces ice creams under the Yummo brand. The worker in question, Omkar Pote, 24, from Pune, had lost the tip of his finger on May 11 while filling ice cream cones at the factory.
To confirm the connection, Malad police collected Pote’s DNA and blood samples and sent them to the forensic science laboratory in Kalina. The results, received on Thursday, confirmed that the DNA from the severed finger matched Pote’s.
Fortunately, the blood tests indicated that Pote did not have any diseases that could endanger consumers who may have ingested ice cream from the same batch.
Factory Under Scrutiny
Ravi Adane, senior police inspector at the Malad police station, highlighted the negligence that led to the contaminated batch being packed and shipped. “It is negligence on the part of the employee and the supervisors at the factory that they let the contaminated ice cream batch be packed and shipped to consumers,” Adane said.
The Malad police plan to issue a notice to the responsible factory personnel under section 41 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which pertains to offenses with penalties of less than seven years in prison.
Regulatory Actions
In the wake of the incident, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has taken decisive action, suspending the license of Fortune Dairy’s Indapur unit, around 300 km from Mumbai. The factory has been issued a stop-work notice, effectively halting its operations until further notice.
Consumer Safety Concerns
This incident has raised serious questions about food safety and quality control in manufacturing units. The presence of a human finger in a consumer product underscores the need for stringent safety protocols and thorough checks to prevent such occurrences.
As the investigation continues, authorities are expected to review and possibly tighten the regulations governing food production to ensure the safety and confidence of consumers.
