Context

• India’s vibrant food culture is shadowed today by a growing crisis of trust.
• A series of high-profile adulteration cases has intensified public concern, revealing deep-rooted problems in hygiene standards, especially within the informal food sector.
• The contrast between the appeal of street food and the growing dependence on packaged foods underscores the complexity of India’s food ecosystem.

The Crisis of Trust in Informal Food Systems

• Street food remains a powerful symbol of India’s cultural identity, yet concerns about safety and sanitation are increasingly overshadowing its charm.
• The July 2024 raids on 58 panipuri stalls in Chennai, where officials found contaminated water and unsafe handling practices, highlight a pattern witnessed across many cities.
• These incidents reflect a systemic regulatory gap, especially in monitoring small vendors scattered across densely populated urban spaces.
• The scale of the problem is immense. The Observer Research Foundation estimates 100 million food-borne illnesses and 1,20,000 deaths annually, much of it connected to contaminated food from informal sources.
• Common practices like the reuse of cooking oil not only degrade nutritional value but also produce harmful trans fats and toxic compounds.
• The use of adulterated or low-quality ingredients, driven by cost pressures, further heightens risk.
• Although the FSSAI is working to train, certify, and regulate street vendors, the informal sector’s vastness makes enforcement challenging.
• Initiatives such as vendor training modules, covering hygiene, safe storage, and waste disposal, represent progress, but meaningful reform requires sustained effort over many years.

Packaged Food: Structure, Science, and Reliability

• In contrast, the packaged food industry operates within a structured, science-driven system that inspires greater consumer confidence.
• While often seen as a convenience-driven sector, packaged foods reflect a well-defined regulatory framework established by the FSSAI.
• These guidelines regulate the entire production chain from raw material sourcing to final packaging, ensuring traceability, accountability, and consistent hygiene standards.
• Technologies such as pasteurisation, vacuum sealing, and aseptic packaging significantly reduce microbial contamination and extend shelf life.
• These innovations make packaged foods particularly suitable for varied climatic conditions and for meeting the needs of India’s expanding urban population.
• Another strength lies in transparency. Clear ingredient lists, allergen warnings, and expiry dates empower consumers, especially parents, elderly individuals, and health-conscious buyers, to make informed food choices.
• The industry is also responding to rising health awareness by offering healthier product lines, reducing harmful additives, and expanding nutrient-fortified foods to address widespread micronutrient deficiencies.
• These developments demonstrate a model in which commercial interests align with public health goals.

Reconciling Tradition with Safety

• Despite its risks, street food remains a cultural and economic pillar of India.
• Millions of livelihoods depend on it, and its flavours remain deeply rooted in the country’s identity.
• The objective, therefore, cannot be to marginalise street food but to raise its safety standards to acceptable levels.
• National programmes such as the Eat Right India movement and the Clean Street Food Hub (CSFH) are steps toward bridging this gap.
• By promoting hygiene training, certifying qualified vendors, and encouraging community-level improvements, these initiatives aim to bring the informal sector closer to regulatory compliance.
• Collaborative efforts, such as FSSAI’s training partnership with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, illustrate how targeted interventions can uplift safety practices without disrupting livelihoods.
• Yet the unorganised nature of the sector means progress will be gradual.
• Effective oversight requires regulatory support, community participation, and sustained behavioural change among both vendors and consumers.

Conclusion

• As India undergoes rapid modernisation and urbanisation, ensuring safe and hygienic food for all must become a national priority.
• While packaged foods benefit from scientific processing, structured oversight, and transparent labelling, street food’s cultural significance calls for thoughtful reform rather than displacement.
• Ultimately, the future of India’s food landscape must be shaped not by sentiment alone but by an unwavering commitment to safety, ensuring that tradition, innovation, and public health move forward together.