'Wear Photo IDs, Protective Gear': Uttarakhand Issues SOP For Food Safety After Spitting Incidents Emerge

After Uttar Pradesh, its neighbour Uttarakhand has issued food safety guidelines making it compulsory for food handlers including vendors and in restaurants, hotels and dhabas to wear photo IDs.

It also asks them to use protective gear like masks, gloves and headgear to prevent food tampering and adulteration and commercial kitchens have been asked to install cameras.

This comes a week after the Dehradun Police arrested two people for spitting in a teapot in Mussoorie and similar incidents of spitting or mixing urine in food came to light from other places.

Meat traders have also been asked to display their photo IDs and keep boards that display whether the meat being sold is ‘halal’ or ‘jhatka’, Indian Express reported.

The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) was issued by the state’s Food Safety and Drug Administration on the instructions of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.

Offenders will face fines ranging from Rs 25,000 to Rs 1 lakh. According to officials, regular raids and sampling are being conducted throughout the state to ensure food safety standards are maintained.

The SOP outlines key steps to improve hygiene in food establishments across Uttarakhand. One essential measure is that individuals with infectious diseases must not be involved in food-related activities.

As per the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Business Operators) Regulations, 2011, food operators are required to maintain a list of employees along with their medical certificates.

The SOP also mandates that food businesses prominently display their licences, keep accurate daily records of production, raw material usage, and sales, and prevent food contamination with harmful substances.

Additionally, businesses operating without valid licences must immediately comply with licensing regulations, with penalties in place for violations.

Meanwhile, UP is planning to bring "Prevention of Pseudo and Anti-Harmony Activities and Prohibition of Spitting Ordinance 2024" and “Uttar Pradesh Prevention of Contamination in Food (Consumer Right to know) Ordinance 2024."