Pani Puri Scare: Child Dies, 18 Ill After Street Food

A six-year-old boy has died, and 18 others have fallen ill due to suspected food poisoning in Giridih, Jharkhand, after allegedly consuming pani-puri from a roadside stall. The affected individuals developed high fever, stomach pain, vomiting, and diarrhea, requiring hospital treatment. This unfortunate event has reignited discussions about the hygiene and safety standards of popular Indian street foods, particularly pani-puri.

Experts point out that street-side pani-puri is often unsafe due to several factors. These include the use of contaminated, untreated water, poor hygiene practices by vendors such as not using gloves or keeping ingredients uncovered, and improper storage of perishable items like boiled potatoes and chutneys in open, heat-exposed conditions. These issues are exacerbated during summer months, creating a breeding ground for bacteria like E. coli and Salmonella.

In response to such concerns, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) launched Project Clean Street Food. This initiative, part of the Eat Right India movement, aims to elevate food safety and hygiene standards among street vendors, transforming them into "Clean Street Food Hubs." The project also focuses on the social and economic upliftment of vendors through skills training.

Vendors participating in the project are guided by key safety tips. These include maintaining personal hygiene by washing hands and using gloves, utilizing safe drinking water (packaged or certified), protecting food from pests and dust by keeping it covered, using clean utensils for cooking and serving, properly disposing of waste in covered bins, and maintaining overall cleanliness of the food cart.