The Yogi Adityanath-led government in Uttar Pradesh has revived its order asking all restaurants and eateries in the state to prominently display the names and addresses of their operators, proprietors and managers. Additionally, the authorities announced plans for police verification drives to ensure compliance, which they claim are aimed at combating food adulteration.
Taking cognisance of incidents of spitting and mixing of urine in eatables in Uttar Pradesh, Adityanath said the presence of human waste in food items was disgusting and ordered strict action against those involved.
The chief minister's directive also included additional hygiene and security measures. Chefs and waiters will be required to wear masks and gloves while working. Furthermore, the installation of CCTV cameras has been made compulsory for all hotels and restaurants in the state.
The order comes two months after the Supreme Court stayed a state government order mandating eateries along the Kanwar Yatra routes to display the names of their owners, staff and other details.
While the previous order was issued through district authorities to prevent confusion among Kanwar Yatra pilgrims, the chief minister's latest mandate comes in response to reported incidents of food contamination, specifically addressing concerns about individuals spitting or mixing urine into food items at eateries.
What has Yogi Adityanath said?
Adityanath, while addressing a meeting on Tuesday, said the presence of human waste in food items was disgusting and ordered strict action against those who adulterate food items with human waste or dirty things.
The move came after several incidents of adulteration came to the fore in the last few months. On September 12, a purported video showing a teenager spitting on rotis while preparing them at an eatery in Saharanpur district went viral on social media, leading to the arrest of the facility's owner.
Recently, a juice vendor in Ghaziabad district was arrested for allegedly serving fruit juices mixed with urine to customers. In June, two men were arrested in Noida for allegedly selling juice contaminated with their spits.
"Dhabas, restaurants and food establishments should be thoroughly investigated and police verification of every employee should be done and necessary amendments should also be made in the Food Safety and Standards Act to ensure the purity and sanctity of food items," said Yogi Adityanath.
"Now whether it is a chef or a waiter, they will have to wear masks and gloves and it will be mandatory to install CCTVs in hotels/restaurants," the chief minister added.
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