FPJ Ground Check Exposes Hygiene Lapses At Pune Street-Food Stalls; FDA Warns Of Action

After the Food and Drug Administration suspended the licenses of several well-known Pune eateries due to unhygienic conditions, food safety violations, and expired food stock, the focus is now on Pune’s thousands of roadside food stalls. These stalls serve thousands of Punekars daily, offering pani-puri, bhel, momos, Chinese food, rolls, and fresh juices.

However, during the monsoon, many stalls operate near overflowing drains, muddy footpaths, and accumulated waste, raising concerns about basic food-safety norms. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India includes petty food operators and street-food vendors in its hygiene requirements, with Schedule 4 outlining general hygienic and sanitary practices for these businesses.

FSSAI’s Clean Street Food initiative emphasizes health, hygiene, safety standards, and regulatory oversight of street food. During a ground check by The Free Press Journal, vendors reported waterlogging, exposed food, poor waste disposal, and limited access to clean water. Vendors like Raju Kumar and Sanjay Jadhav shared how rainwater frequently reaches their food counters and cooking areas, making it difficult to work under such conditions.

Juice vendors face an additional contamination risk, as peeled fruits tend to attract flies if waste becomes wet. While food safety falls under the FDA’s jurisdiction, unauthorised occupation of footpaths can be addressed by the Pune Municipal Corporation. Vendors warned that violating safety rules could result in immediate improvement notices, heavy fines, seizure of adulterated inventory, and suspension or cancellation of their FSSAI registration.