The Yogi Adityanath government will bring a law to penalise those contaminating food with human filth after repeated instances seen in the state of food vendors or street vendors spitting in food items. Such instances have also caused communal tensions in the past.
Serving contaminated food laced with human waste/filth will be a cognizable offence and a stricter law is on the anvil, the chief minister said at a review meeting on Tuesday. He said a strict law is essential to ensure purity of food and uphold consumer confidence as consumers deserve full transparency on food and beverage sellers.
The chief minister again said sellers should be required to display signboards at their establishments, and all personnel must wear identity cards while on duty. Strict penalties should be imposed on those who provide false information or operate under pseudonyms.
The new law in the works is to prevent adulteration of food and beverages by hiding identities; and there will be provision for imprisonment and fine on violation, the state government said.
“Take strict action against intruders and illegal foreign workers in food establishments,” Adityanath directed officials.
The chief minister has reviewed a proposed law to curb food adulteration with filth and inedible substances. “During the meeting, Adityanath emphasised the need for stringent measures to address recent incidents of food contamination involving items like juice, dal, and roti being adulterated with human waste and other harmful substances,” the state government said in a statement.
In recent times, incidents of adulteration of food items like juice, dal and roti with human waste/inedible/filthy things have been seen in various parts of the country. These heinous acts not only endanger public health but also threaten social harmony. Such malicious activities are utterly unacceptable and demand immediate action, the chief minister said.
“To safeguard the purity of food and maintain consumer confidence in public order, strict laws are essential. Clear regulations must be established for activities involving hotels, restaurants, dhabas, and street vendors. Violators should face both imprisonment and fines, with such offenses treated as cognizable and non-bailable to ensure swift and decisive action,” the government said.
The law will ensure that antisocial elements are prevented from adulterating food and beverages with human waste, inedible, or filthy substances while concealing their identity. “Such malicious activities must be strictly curbed,” the CM said.
The government also said every consumer must have the right to access essential information about food and beverage sellers and service providers. “To ensure this, sellers should be required to display signboards at their establishments, and all personnel must wear identity cards while on duty. Strict penalties should be imposed on those who provide false information or operate under pseudonyms,” the government said.
“Every food establishment must guarantee that its food is free from contamination. It should be mandatory to install an adequate number of CCTV cameras for continuous monitoring in both the kitchen and dining areas. Footage from these cameras should be retained for at least one month and made available upon request by the district administration at any time,” the government said.
It will be mandatory for all kitchen staff to cover their heads, wear masks, and use gloves while preparing and serving food in the establishment. Food business operators must provide the relevant department with the details of all personnel employed in the establishment.
“If any personnel in a food establishment is identified as an intruder or an illegal foreign citizen, strict action must be taken against them. The law should clearly outline provisions to address this issue,” the chief minister said.
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