Jharkhand Food Safety Drive: Intensified Inspections Target Unhygienic Practices, Street Food

Ranchi: Food safety inspections have been intensified across the state as authorities launched a statewide drive against unhygienic food handling, unsafe street food practices and artificial fruit ripening. Special teams are conducting checks at street food stalls, restaurants, sweet shops and fruit markets, with stricter compliance measures being enforced across districts.

Officials said the recent food poisoning incident in Giridih, where a child died and more than 49 people fell ill after allegedly consuming contaminated 'golgappas', has added urgency to the ongoing inspections.

Health minister Irfan Ansari said the govt is treating food safety as a public health priority and warned of strict legal action against violators.

“Whether poor or rich, every citizen’s life is precious to us. Those selling poisonous or contaminated food and playing with innocent lives will not be spared. The govt is working with a zero-tolerance policy,” he said.

All street food shops, restaurants, hotels and sweet shops are being checked for food quality, hygiene standards, drinking water safety and licensing. Contaminated food items will be seized immediately, and legal action will follow, he added.

State deputy food commissioner Anant Sinha said inspections are currently focused on major urban centres, including Ranchi, Jamshedpur and Hazaribag, with special drives targeting golgappa, chaat and other roadside vendors.

“Violations will invite stricter action. Vendors have been directed to wear hand gloves, headgear and aprons while handling food. FSSAI registration and adherence to safety standards are mandatory for operation,” he said.

On Tuesday, special drives were carried out in Jamshedpur and Hazaribag against vendors selling golgappas, chaat and samosas, with teams checking hygiene standards and issuing strict instructions on the use of aprons, gloves and headgear. Fruit markets were also inspected where officials checked ripening practices for mangoes and bananas and found no use of carbide.

Directions were issued to maintain hygiene and proper sanitation. Similar inspections were conducted on Monday in Gumla, where food stalls and fruit ripening chambers were checked and vendors were told to avoid printed paper for food transport and use only fresh, quality ingredients.