Telangana Bakery Ordered to Pay Rs 25,000 for Selling Expired Diet Coke

A Telangana bakery has been ordered to pay Rs 25,000 after selling expired Diet Coke cans to a customer. The incident occurred in 2025 when the customer purchased four Diet Coke cans from the bakery for Rs 160.

The customer discovered that one of the cans had expired on August 9, 2025, and was unfit for consumption. When he confronted the bakery owner about selling an expired product, the owner allegedly offered him Rs 2,000 to keep quiet.

The customer filed a complaint with the consumer court, which held the bakery and its employee liable for selling expired products. The court ordered them to refund the purchase price of Rs 160, pay Rs 15,000 as compensation to the customer, and deposit Rs 10,000 in the state consumer welfare fund.

The court also dismissed the complaint against Coca-Cola India, ruling that the liability for selling expired food products rested with the retailer, not the manufacturer or seller. The company's lawyer argued that authorized bottlers were independent entities responsible for manufacturing, packaging, and selling the products under the Coca-Cola brand.