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Food safety and hygiene issues are on the rise in India. Every day a new headline brings a new restaurant, city, or state to attention. Wrestling with adulteration, use of synthetic dyes, unhygienic storage of food, and sale of expired food items loaded with harmful chemicals, the Indian food industry is under the radar of international organisations as well.
Video Credit: Your Food Lab/ YouTube
Whether it is the lack of accessibility to clean products or awareness of hygiene, customers are the ones who are suffering the most. From North to South, people are experiencing grappling with foodborne illnesses and losing their loved ones because of malpractices. If you are worried about your health, here are a few street foods that you must consume in moderation and run a thorough check on vendors selling them.
Pani Puri
The recent news of around 22% samples of pani puri in Karnataka being unfit for human consumption has left the authorities shocked. It was also reported that some samples were found to be contaminated with carcinogens, cancer-causing elements. If you crave the popular street food, you can either choose to make different kinds of pani at home or eat at restaurants that ensure the use of clean water without synthetic dyes and chemicals.
Gobi Manchurian
One of the first street food delicacies that found itself in the turmoil of safety hazards in 2024 was gobi manchurian. Karnataka, Goa, and many other states found vendors using synthetic dyes for the luring colour. They also found that the dish was being cooked in unhygienic spaces and chemicals were used to preserve it and cut costs.
Kebabs
Kebabs are quite popular across India, but the Karnataka government recently found that vendors were using artificial colours to achieve the desired results. Not only the state authorities ban the use of chemical dyes but also said that if proven guilty, the vendor would have to pay a fine of Rs 10 lakhs and be imprisoned for seven years. Whenever you are buying kebabs, ask the vendor to grill them fresh right in front of you so that you can ensure safety.
Cotton Candy
Visit a park in any Indian city, and you will witness many vendors selling vibrant cotton candies. The sugary treats are the favourites of every child and adult. However, in February 2024, Puducherry banned cloudy delights because the investigation indicated the use of harmful toxic chemicals in food colours. It reported that water-soluble colours could lead to oxidative stress and tissue damage.
Chole Bhature
There is no ban on chole bhature but in June 2024, a woman found a dead lizard in her food in New Delhi. This raises questions on hygiene conditions in which the food is cooked and stored. Vendors are keeping the food items in places where pests can reach and contaminate them. As long as they can sell dishes, it does not matter whether a lizard is cooked with food or a mouse. You should opt for eating in restaurants that maintain high-quality standards and check your food thoroughly before you relish it.
It is not just street food but also packaged spice mixtures and dishes that are also under scrutiny. When ordering food online, a customer cannot peek into the kitchen but they can still check the food before consumption and highlight the issue with the platform so that necessary steps can be taken. If this scenario continues, people will refrain from eating at restaurants which will devastatingly affect the Indian food industry.
