Sale of unhygienic food goes on unabated in city

Sukhmeet Bhasin

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Tribune News Service

Bathinda, May 24

Even as the hot weather is forcing residents to stay indoors, cut-fruits being sold in various localities of the city are posing serious health hazards. Residents of the city are at a risk of falling prey to water-borne diseases because of the numerous roadside eateries, which are selling ‘unhygienic food’ which is going unchecked by the authorities concerned and giving rise to contagious diseases like typhoid, cholera and gastroenteritis.

The illegal vendors that have mushroomed at every nook and corner in the city, are serving food on stalls and small carts, and never care to serve hygienic food. Vendors have been selling cut fruit near schools to attract children who are not much concerned about their health.

The sale of cut fruits and exposed food material like ‘gol gappas’, ‘channa-kultcha,’ “tikki” and fruits is going on unabated near schools, colleges, railway stations, bus stand, court, cinema houses and rose garden in the city. It was also found that the places from where these vendors were operating their business were very unhygienic.

It is seen that at a few of these eateries procure contaminated water for cooking, washing and serving purposes from roadside municipality taps, which are often surrounded by garbage. The eatables are not properly covered after cooking.

It was also found that the vendors were using unfit water for washing the wares. With a very small amount of water they wash the utensils the whole day and do not bother to change it. Containers kept for storing drinking water were mostly rusty and made of unhygienic and cheap plastic. Consumption of these things could cause serious ailments.

An official of the Health Department official said they are regularly inspecting the roadside food items. He also told that overripe fruits are destroyed by the department and they also appeal to people to change their eating habits during the summer and eat food prepared in proper hygienic environment.

Dr Ripudamanjit Singh Kalra, said, “There is an increase in number of patients suffering with one or other ailment related with stomach and remarkably it is not only the rural populace but there is a steady rise in numbers of patients coming from decent economic and educated background.”

He also stated that eating uncovered and unhygienic food sold by the roadside vendor can cause health issues. Eating fruits and light food is good for health in summer, but these foods should be properly cooked in hygienic environment.

Another resident Atul Garg, said the Health Department should seriously keep a check on these vendors selling unhygienic food in the city. As exercise of keeping a check on the sale of cut fruits and juices being sold in the open is turning out to be a mere formality. Mushrooming of various shops selling cut fruits in unhygienic conditions has raised many eyebrows.