Make Street Food Safer

How to 

 (Without Sucking the Fun Out of It)-Pradeep Gupta 

Who doesn’t love street food? It’s cheap, delicious, and often way more flavorful than anything you’d find in a fancy restaurant. For many, especially daily wage earners and the middle class, it’s an affordable way to grab a meal. But let’s be honest—street food can also be a fast track to an upset stomach (or worse).

So, how do we enjoy our favorite roadside treats without playing a game of digestive roulette? Here are some simple but crucial tips:

1. Choose Vendors Who Use Disposable Plates & Cutlery

We all love the environment, but sometimes, your stomach deserves priority. Many vendors wash their plates and utensils with highly contaminated water—turning that delicious plate of chaat into a bacterial breeding ground. If possible, opt for stalls that use disposable (and preferably biodegradable) plates and spoons. Or better yet, bring your own!

2. Beware of the Oil Trap

Ever wonder why your street-side samosas taste so extra crispy? That’s probably because the vendor has been reusing the same oil for days. The repeated frying process creates Total Polar Compounds (TPCs)—fancy science talk for "really bad stuff you shouldn’t be eating." So, if your poori is shinier than your forehead on a summer afternoon, maybe give that stall a pass.

3. Say No to Gobi Manchurian (Unless You Enjoy Parasites)

We know, we know—Gobi Manchurian is irresistible. But here’s a fun fact (or a nightmare): The cauliflower used in street carts is often not washed properly. This means it could be carrying a delightful mix of faecal matter and parasite eggs. Unless you’re looking for an unwanted internal pet, you might want to rethink that order.

4. Skip the Mystery Ice

That refreshing glass of nimbu pani? It might come with a side of E. coli. Since you have no idea where the ice comes from (or how it was handled), it’s best to avoid it altogether. Stick to bottled drinks or beverages served hot.

5. Think Twice Before Eating Street-Side Non-Veg

Love kebabs and fried chicken? Great. But have you seen how that meat is handled? Many street vendors mix and marinate their meat right there on the sidewalk, surrounded by dust, street animals, and an audience of bacteria. If hygiene isn’t their strong suit, maybe non-veg street food shouldn’t be your dinner choice.

6. Bring Your Own Cup for Tea

Chai lovers, listen up! The tea stall’s glass cups are not your friends. They’ve been used by countless people, barely rinsed, and are often the favorite resting spot for houseflies. If you’re a regular chai drinker, carrying your own cup is an easy fix. Bonus: You’ll look super sophisticated pulling out your personal tea vessel.

7. Removing Street Vendors is Not the Solution

Street food vendors provide affordable meals to millions in cities like Mumbai and there mere presence compels restaurants to keep their prices competitive , and simply banning them isn’t fair. Instead, local authorities should focus on improving hygiene standards. Political parties instead of treating them mere Vote Bank,  work for uplifting their status by sponsoring/ arranging finances for buying Smart Carts . Regular inspection to see their hygienic standard will also help , Municipal  authorities don’t have enough manpower to inspect every stall so they can rope up  schools, colleges, and NGOs, who  can step in to educate vendors on safer food practices.

8. A Smarter Future for Street Food

Thankfully, innovation is on our side! The Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) in Mysuru has developed SmartCart, a solar-powered, energy-efficient street vending cart designed to improve hygiene and food safety. With proper mobility and infrastructure, this could revolutionize street food across India.

With the right steps, we can make street food safer without losing its charm. After all, no one wants to trade a plate of spicy chaat for a week in bed with food poisoning! Eat smart, stay safe, and keep enjoying your favorite roadside delights.