Pune: Small Food Outlets Struggle To Maintain Hygiene Amid Staff Shortage, Customer Rush
Pune: Despite repeated warnings and inspections by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), several small food outlets in Pune continue to struggle to maintain basic hygiene, with owners citing staff shortages, a continuous flow of customers and the cost of hiring additional workers as major challenges. At a small outlet near the Kalewadi Phata Flyover, the manager of Engineer Thali Ani Vade said…
Despite repeated FDA inspections and warnings, small food outlets in Pune are grappling with maintaining adequate hygiene standards. Limited manpower is cited as a significant hurdle, with owners struggling to allocate enough resources for cleaning amidst the continuous influx of customers. At a small outlet near Kalewadi Phata Flyover, the manager explained that the same staff members handle food preparation, customer service, table clearing, and utensil washing, particularly during peak hours.
This leads to cleaning tasks being postponed until later when the kitchen becomes dirty once again. While the outlet is aware of the importance of hygiene, the manager acknowledged that maintaining cleanliness throughout the day proves challenging due to staff shortages.
Similarly, a Dosa and Coffee outlet near the same flyover faced similar issues. The outlet's head stated that staff shortages directly impact cleaning routines. When two workers are absent, the entire system is affected as there is no designated person responsible for cleaning. During peak hours, food preparation takes priority because customers are waiting in line. The manager emphasized that hiring additional staff would significantly increase monthly expenses for a small outlet.
Another small eatery located near the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) office shared a similar experience. They pointed out that maintaining hygiene is an ongoing challenge, as food particles, oil, water, and waste accumulate within a few hours. The manager noted that sometimes, due to the repetitive nature of the conditions, owners tend to overlook them. To maintain a consistent standard of cleanliness, constant monitoring and a dedicated individual responsible for hygiene is required.
Finally, a Chinese-food outlet near the PMC office highlighted the difficulties faced in a small kitchen where the same workers handle cooking, serving, and cleaning. During rush hours, cleaning gets delayed, and the kitchen needs to be cleaned again after completing the food orders. The manager assured that fresh, clean food is served, but the environment on the roadside constantly exposes the establishment to dust.
Despite these challenges, the outlet strives to serve clean and fresh food, cleaning tables and the area three to four times a day.
Written by urgent.news from Free Press Journal's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
