Street food is too tempting to resist, but is it worth the risk?

No doubt that fast food items sold by street side vendors tickle your taste buds, but they can also cause serious health problems. Though priced low, they are prepared and stored unhygienically. Experts Speak Up

Unhygienic food stalls can become a source for disease outbreaks
It is true that the food that is prepared and served by these street side vendors is unhygienic, which can lead to waterborne and food-borne illnesses. One can get bacterial and viral infections eating contaminated food. The bacteria can be passed from the hands of the food vendors or by the unhygienic way they prepare and serve the food.

Salmonella bacteria infection is a major food-borne illness that one can get by eating at unhygienic places. This infection can lead to symptoms like nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea along with fever. One is also susceptible to other bacterial and viral infections such as rotavirus by eating street side food. These unhygienic food stalls can become a source for disease outbreaks like cholera. 

Other concern is that the water used at these stalls are not filtered and sourced from unhygienic places. Especially during the summer, due to a rise in temperature and humidity, there is an increase in viral and bacterial infections. Serving unhygienic food items are not only limited to street vendors but even good restaurants can do the same. Though water source is a big aspect, using undercooked meat and tinned food can also be sources of Salmonella infection.

Dr Sampada Patwardhan, consultant microbiologist

Street side food stalls in the city are required to register with FDA
With the enforcement of the new Central Food Safety Act, from August 5, 2011, the inspection and regulation of these street food vendors now comes under the jurisdiction of Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The street side food stalls in the city, which have an annual turnover under Rs12 lakh, are required to register with FDA, Pune. Before giving them the permission to start their business, our food safety officers (FSO) inspect if the provisions as stated by us are met by these vendors.

Our FSO officers also go on routine visits to these places to check if these vendors are following the required hygiene rules. If doubtful, samples are collected and sent to the public testing labs. If the reports come positive for contamination, we also register a criminal case for prosecution in the court.

We also take action on complaints registered by aggrieved customers. The street food business is very large, while the staff that we have is very less. It is not possible for us to keep vigilance on every food stall. Even if we raid these places, confiscate and stop their business, they restart somewhere else or in the same place after few days. 

BR Masal, Joint Commissioner, FDA (Pune)

Food stalls are meant to sell only readymade food preparations
The Pune Municipal Corporation has its own check system in place. We have our own food safety officers who report to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) office in Pune.

Without licence, these street vendors cannot run their business as it is illegal. Even if they get a licence, the street food vendors are not supposed to prepare and serve food. They are meant to sell only readymade food preparations.

Though we regularly raid stalls of food vendors and confiscate them, they reinstall there shacks within two or three days. A nominal penalisation of Rs100-200 does not deter them from doing their business. As per the new Food Security Act, 2011, the work of inspecting and keeping a check on these street food vendors now lies with the FDA office. FDA is empowered to give licences and raid these places. The role of local authorities is now restricted.

ST Pardeshi, medical officer, PMC

People go for street food because it it is priced low & served quickly
Eating food purchased from street vendors can usually affect the stomach and the intestines leading to common bacterial illnesses like gastroenteritis, diarrhoea and jaundice among others.

Also, the food prepared in these stalls use baking soda as a cooking substitution, which can lead to acidity, vomiting and even hyper-acidity in some cases. Worse is that bacterial infection can lead to loss of appetite and even typhoid. Generally people tend to get attracted towards these street food preparations because it is cheap and is served quickly.

Even if the some of these preparations are served hot, it does not mean that the germs are destroyed. Germs can be transferred by serving food in dirty plates and when vendors don’t wash their hands. Especially students and those who stay in hostels eat at such stalls. It is important to spread awareness among the general public to eat at hygienic places. 

Dr Medha Panse, General Practitioner

There is no awareness among the general public regarding hygiene
What and where these street food vendors source the water is not the only issue that is worrisome. The whole process of preparing and serving unhygienically in dirty surroundings is equally a cause of concern. These food stalls are situated where filthy gutters are flowing. Also, the cloth used by these vendors to dry utensils is dirty, their hands are unwashed and the plates used for serving food are not cleaned properly.

All this leads to spreading germs and causing diseases. I don’t understand how can a short-staffed FDA department keep vigilance on such a big unorganised business. The bigger issue is that there is no awareness among the general public regarding hygiene. Many people visit these street food vendors because they offer cheaper food compared to big restaurants. The unhygienic food served by these street vendors is a complex issue; there must be a multi-pronged approach to resolve the problem.

Dr Anant Phadke, co-convenor, Jan Arogya Abhiyan