CHILLING MISSTEP @GURUGRAM CAFE
Laforestta Cafe’s culinary catastrophe, where customers were served dry ice in place of mouth freshener, raises concern about the lack of trained service staff
In a shocking incident at Laforestta Cafe in sector 90, Gurugram, recently, the staff allegedly served dry ice instead of mouth freshener to customers, resulting in a distressing episode. The translucent ice cubes were served to a group of friends, five of whom consumed it, only to experience a burning sensation in their mouths. A viral video on social media captures the harrowing scenes of the affected individuals screaming, vomiting blood and desperately trying to alleviate the intense burning sensation.
Ankit Kumar, a resident of Greater Noida, who was accompanying the affected group, tells us, “Not only were we served dry ice, but when they saw us suffering, no one came to help. The entire staff retreated into the kitchen and locked themselves in. This is extremely disappointing.” Kumar further reveals, “My wife was in ICU, and I recently got her discharged because of my toddler. One person is still in ICU. I urge everyone to be very careful while eating at restaurants. Places like these should be closed. Forget taking responsibility for the treatment expenses; we didn’t even receive a call from them.”
He has filed a police complaint and registered an FIR under sections 328 (causing hurt by means of poison) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal
Code at Kherki Daula police station.
Chef Nishant Choubey states, “When you go to a restaurant, you trust their services, and if one is served dry ice instead of mouth freshener, it emphasises the lack of basic training.” Kama KM, a mixologist, advises caution, noting, “It’s not an edible item, and there are rules to use it. It should never come in direct contact with the food and cocktails. It’s an industrial product, not food-grade, so only experts should be allowed to use it in restaurants.”
The police has arrested the manager, and an investigation is underway. Efforts to contact the cafe for their side have been unsuccessful.