Shopping in malls has become a common weekend habit for many urban families. It mixes leisure with spending time out. However, high prices on basic food items often trigger quiet complaints about whether the experience justifies the cost.
Sai Nagarjuna recently drew attention on X after spotting sugarcane juice priced at Rs 300 at AMB Sarath City Mall in Hyderabad. The post spread quickly online. Many users questioned the steep difference compared to street prices.
Outside malls, the same sugarcane juice usually sells for Rs 20 to Rs 50. The sharp price gap made the mall rate appear almost ten times higher. Sai Nagarjuna asked if any authority checks such food outlet pricing.
In India, packaged food items must follow printed MRP rules under Legal Metrology laws. Fresh juices fall outside this scope. They are treated as services that include rent, ambience, and hygiene costs.
FSSAI regulates food safety and licensing, not pricing. This allows mall outlets to charge based on demand, similar to cinema food counters. Consumer forums sometimes question extreme pricing, but action remains inconsistent.
While this pricing is not illegal, it highlights how high-overhead spaces function. Clear menu displays and price transparency may reduce customer frustration. Hyderabad shoppers now weigh street value against mall comfort more carefully.
Sugarcane Juice costs a whopping Rs.300/- in AMB Sarath City Mall, Hyderabad
Is there any regulatory authority to regulate prices in food outlets? pic.twitter.com/ZwmA9PYugy
— Sai Nagarjuna (@_sainagarjuna_) January 30, 2026
