The Uttar Pradesh government is set to introduce a stringent new law to curb food adulteration. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath emphasised the need for a "strict law" to ensure the "purity" of food items and to maintain consumer trust and public order. He instructed officials to draft clear regulations governing activities related to hotels, restaurants, dhabas, and street vendors, underscoring the importance of food safety.
Adityanath also directed that the proposed legislation should prevent any incidents of food adulteration by "anti-social elements" who might conceal their identities. The law would make it mandatory for food and beverage sellers, as well as other service providers, to display a signboard with all relevant details about their establishment. According to Adityanath, this would ensure that consumers have the right to know essential information about the sellers.
The new set of laws is also aimed at curbing the contamination of food and beverages with human waste, spit, inedible substances, or other unhygienic materials. This decision follows incidents in the state where food stall workers and juice vendors were penalized for allegedly contaminating products like juice and rotis with human urine or spit.
On October 15, CM Yogi Adityanath held a high-level meeting with officials to discuss the proposed legislation, emphasizing the need for a “permanent stop” to such adulteration practices. During the discussion, the Chief Minister addressed concerns about similar incidents of contamination occurring nationwide, underscoring the urgency of stricter regulations to prevent the adulteration of food items such as juice, dal, and roti with harmful or filthy materials, according to a government spokesperson.
“Such incidents are horrific and adversely affect the health of the common man. It also adversely affects social harmony. Such nefarious attempts cannot be accepted at all,” said Adityanath.
The specific details of the proposed legislation are yet to be disclosed. However, reports indicate that the government may introduce two separate ordinances: one aimed at prohibiting spitting and other activities deemed disruptive to public harmony, and another specifically targeting the criminalization of food contamination.
During a recent meeting, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed officials to ensure that such offenses are classified as cognizable and non-bailable. He emphasized that violators should face stringent penalties, including imprisonment and fines. Furthermore, the legislation should include provisions for strict action against any staff member in eateries found to be an “intruder or an illegal foreign citizen,” as stated by the government, reflecting Adityanath's instructions.