Street Food Vigilance

(MENAFN- Kashmir Observer) Health Authorities and Their Laxity

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Recipe for Disaster.

One cannot help but question the role of public health authorities in maintaining food safety standards. Their duty is to monitor, inspect, and enforce hygiene regulations, but what we witness is a blatant disregard for public health. The presence of contaminated and adulterated food is not an isolated incident but a reflection of a systemic failure that has existed for years. The lack of stringent monitoring allows vendors to continue their hazardous practices without fear of consequence. Do we really need more such terrifying discoveries, like an elephant floating in oil, before we take this issue seriously?

Read Also Intensive Food Safety Inspection Drive Conducted In Srinagar 'Weak Food Regulations, Poor Hygiene Reasons Behind Many Diseases'

Adulterated Food: A Silent Killer in Kashmir
The surge in cancer cases in Kashmir is alarming, and while several factors contribute to it, one undeniable common denominator is food adulteration. Street food, often cooked in reused, overcooked oil, is a known carcinogen. Chemically ripened fruits, artificially colored vegetables, and contaminated dairy products are widely consumed. What makes matters worse is that most of this food is stored in unhygienic conditions, handled with bare hands, and exposed to the elements. Food handlers often lack basic hygiene training, and their health status remains unchecked. With diseases like hepatitis, tuberculosis, and gastrointestinal infections rampant, the consequences of consuming unhygienic food are dire.

An Overlooked Crisis

The popularity of street food in Kashmir is undeniable. Be it the bustling lanes of shrines, festivals, food streets like Boulevard and Khayam Chowk, street vendors in Hyderpora, Bemina Chowk, Lal Bazar, Buchpora, or local markets around SMHS or SKIMS hospitals, they attract thousands of customers daily. From traditional delicacies like 'Tujh' and fish fries to fried snacks like pakoras, samosas, and parathas, street food is deeply embedded in Kashmiri culture. However, the hygiene practices of these vendors remain questionable. Food is often prepared in makeshift stalls with little regard for sanitation, and the source of ingredients is rarely verified. Consumers, unaware or indifferent, continue to indulge in these food items, oblivious to the potential health hazards.

How Many Have Fallen Sick? A Question We Cannot Ignore

The mere thought of consuming food cooked in oil contaminated with rats is nauseating. But if rats were discovered floating in oil, it is only logical to assume that many must have already consumed that contaminated food before the discovery was made. How many people have suffered from food poisoning, stomach cramps, nausea, and vomiting due to such negligence? How many incidents like this go unreported? The truth is, the lack of accountability in food safety is costing people their health, and in some cases, even their lives.

Lack of regular/periodic surprise inspections is a systemic failure. The responsibility of ensuring food safety lies with health and food regulatory authorities. But how frequently are inspections actually conducted? Are food samples routinely tested? Are food handlers required to obtain health check certificates or vaccination records? The sad reality is that inspections are often conducted only after a disaster has already occurred. There is no proactive approach; instead, authorities wake up only to go back to sleep once the outrage subsides.

The Role of Social Media in Exposing Unhygienic Practices

With the rise of social media, videos, reels, and reports of unhygienic food practices are frequently surfacing. From bakeries using substandard ingredients to street vendors selling stale, contaminated food, the reality is grim. The fact that such reports generate outrage online but fail to translate into concrete action speaks volumes about the inefficiency of food regulatory bodies. If food safety violations are so easily captured on camera, why are they not being addressed with immediate and strict legal action?

The Psychological Impact of Food Contamination

Beyond the physical consequences of consuming contaminated food, there is also a psychological impact. The knowledge that people may have unknowingly eaten food cooked in oil contaminated with rats is enough to induce nausea and distress. The fear of food contamination creates anxiety among consumers, making them question every meal they eat. It is not just about one incident-it is about the continuous erosion of trust in the food industry and regulatory authorities.

What Needs to Be Done?
Vigilance. Addressing this crisis requires a multi-faceted approach:

• Strict Food Safety Regulations – Authorities must enforce stringent hygiene and food safety regulations for all food vendors.
• Regular and Surprise Inspections – Routine checks must be conducted without prior notice to ensure compliance with hygiene standards.
• Health Certifications for Food Handlers – Every individual involved in food preparation or handling must undergo regular health checkups and be certified fit to handle food.
• Public Awareness Campaigns – Consumers need to be educated on the risks of consuming unhygienic food and encouraged to demand better standards.
• Heavy Penalties for Violators – Food vendors found violating safety regulations should face severe consequences, including heavy fines and license revocation.
• Encouraging Safe Street Food Practices – Instead of an outright ban on street food, authorities should work on creating designated zones where hygiene can be strictly monitored.

Will Accountability be Redefined?

It is time to stop shifting blame and demand accountability from those responsible for food safety. The authorities in charge of food regulation, health inspection, and public safety must take this issue seriously. They need to ensure that no more harm comes to the public due to negligence and incompetence. The question remains-will we act now, or will we wait for an even greater disaster before taking responsibility?

A Call to Action!

The crisis of unhygienic street food in Kashmir is not just an isolated problem-it is a reflection of a larger issue of negligence and lack of accountability. Every citizen deserves access to safe, hygienic food, and it is the duty of regulatory authorities to ensure that. The floating rats in cooking oil are just the tip of the iceberg; what lies beneath is an unchecked system riddled with corruption, indifference, and inefficiency. We must wake up before it is too late. The time to act is now. May Allah help us all.

Views expressed in the article are the author's own and do not necessarily represent the editorial stance of Kashmir Observer

• The author is a surgeon at Mubarak Hospital, Certified and Qualified International Expert on Healthcare Standards of Quality and Safety. He can be reached at [email protected]

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