Food safe on streets? A warning, not a solution

Despite the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSAI) being in place, street food zones in the city continue to be a breeding ground for unhygienic and unhealthy food practices. The Food Safety Department's efforts to curb these violations seem half-hearted, with their actions limited to collecting routine samples.

A visit to any street food zone in the city reveals a plethora of food safety norms being flouted. From vendors handling food with bare hands to storing food in unhygienic conditions, the violations are rampant. Despite this, the department's response has been lukewarm.

According to the department's own records, a significant number of food samples collected from street food vendors have failed the safety tests. However, the action taken against these vendors has been minimal. In most cases, the vendors have been let off with a mere warning or a fine.

Even with a full-fledged wing of the Health Department working only to ensure sale and use of quality food products, one can easily spot food vendors flouting food safety norms with impunity. The department has fixed a target of collecting at least seven food samples for each of the food safety officers. With five food safety officer posts, the wing is completing the target of 35 samples a month. However, the situation on the ground fails to improve.

The lack of effective action by the department has raised concerns among consumers. "We have the right to safe and healthy food. It's the department's responsibility to ensure that food vendors adhere to safety norms. We demand stricter action against violators."

Assistant Food Commissioner Rajwinder Pal said, "We send the collected samples to food testing laboratory. The action as per law is taken after the reports are received." The official boasted that the wing had seized quantities of synthetic khoya during the festival season.