A lot of people in this world LOVE Indian street food. Some people who have tried it love it, while others who haven’t tried it … think it’s the best food on the planet. Now before you go ahead and buy all those packaged “Indian-inspired” dinner products in stores, let me tell you — There is a myth that all the street food in India is unhygienic. Indian Street Food, at times, is the most unhygienic and unappetizing food in the world!
Street food is the food you get in streets of India. It can be any kind of snack like pani puri, gol gappa etc. Indians love eating out not just because it’s more cost-effective but also because it is fast and tasty. Street Foods are found almost around every corner and they are a delight to taste. Fugged about the hygiene conditions, Indians do not mind even if street food vendors don’t wash their hands before frying Vada-paav or cutting the Roti for Dosa or making Lassi or serving Falooda. Most of us wouldn’t think twice about tasting these delicacies from filthy street side stalls manned by unhygienic vendors — but at what cost?
Pani Puri
Chutney’s
Dahi Vada
Samosa’s
Papri Chaat
Ragda Pattice
Faluda Kulfi
Chaat Papri
Paani Batasha
Before we go any further, let’s talk about the good part about Indian street food: it’s cheap! You can get a full meal for under $2 USD, which is pretty amazing if you ask me. And if you ever visit India, make sure to stop by one of these stalls at least once. They’re pretty much everywhere in cities like Mumbai and Delhi.
The bad part about Indian street food is that it can be downright dangerous sometimes. While most stalls are perfectly safe to eat at, there are still some things you need to look out for when choosing your meals from the stalls around town. Here are 10 reasons why I believe Indian street food should be avoided:
Here are 10 reasons why we should AVOID Indian street food:
1. Poor Hygiene Standards
2. Unsafe Food Handling Practices
3. Unhealthy Ingredients Used In Street Food
4. Unsafe Cooking Equipment
5. Lack Of Sanitation Facilities At Street Food Stalls
6. No Health Inspections Required For Street Food Stalls In India
7. No Legal Action Taken Against The Vendors If They Aren’t Following Hygiene Standards And Food Safety Rules Of The Country
8. Lack Of Knowledge About Healthy Eating Habits Among People Who Eat Street Food Regularly
9. Too Much Fat And Sugar In Most Of The Popular Dishes Served By The Vendors
10. Dirty Utensils, Insect Infestations Like Cockroaches, Mosquitoes etc on The Kitchen Floor of Many Indian Restaurants.
After effects of eating Indian street food-:
Stomach Aches, Nausea, Diarrhoea, Food Poisoning due to Bacteria like Salmonella and E Coli O157:H7,Contaminants like Methane Gas, Carbon Monoxide and Hydrogen Sulphide Produced by Methanogens in Open Sewers near the Restaurant Area, Strong Spices Used in Indian Cuisine Can Cause Allergic Reactions Like Asthma, Cough, Heart Burn, etc
Not every street food in India is unhygienic. And if you have been to India, then you know it.
There may be food places India that are unhygienic, but this not true for al. Many popular Indian street foods are delicious and healthy. And if you choose them wisely, you can enjoy a safe and tasty meal on the go.
Here are some tips for choosing safe and hygienic street food in India:
Look out for signs of cleanliness such as clean tables, utensils and so on. Also look out for signs of thorough washing — there should be no residue when you touch these items with your fingers!
Eat at places that are well known have a good reputation and long queues. These places usually have good food as well as enough customers to keep them going. The longer the queue, the more popular they are likely to be.