Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has introduced a series of stringent regulations for food establishments across the state. As part of these new measures, both chefs and waiters will now be required to wear masks and gloves while on duty, and it will be mandatory for hotels and restaurants to install CCTV cameras. Additionally, operators, proprietors, and managers must clearly display their names and addresses at all food and drink establishments, a step aimed at enhancing accountability.
This development comes amid the Tirupati Laddu row, which came under the spotlight after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu accused the previous YSR Congress (YSRCP) government of using animal fat and substandard ingredients in making the laddus.
Announced during a high-level meeting on Tuesday, these new regulations come in response to alarming incidents of food contamination in various parts of the country.
"Adding human waste to food items like juice, lentils, and bread is abhorrent and unacceptable," the Chief Minister said, stressing that strict action will be taken against offenders. The measures aim to ensure that such occurrences do not take place in Uttar Pradesh.
The initiative includes an extensive inspection campaign, where police verification of every staff member — whether at a small roadside dhaba or a high-end restaurant — will become mandatory. Joint teams from the Food Safety and Drug Administration, the police, and local authorities will oversee these checks, ensuring compliance with the newly laid-out hygiene standards.
To bolster food safety, the state government is also considering amendments to the Food Safety and Standards Act, which will make it mandatory for eateries to prominently display key information about their operators and maintain rigorous hygiene practices.
The installation of CCTV cameras in food establishments is intended not only for customer safety but also to monitor food preparation areas. Footage from these cameras will be securely stored and made available to authorities when needed, ensuring transparency and deterring malpractices.
“Public health cannot be compromised,” Adityanath stated. "Those responsible for food contamination or unhygienic practices will face the harshest penalties." With these sweeping changes, Uttar Pradesh aims to create a safer and cleaner environment for its residents and visitors alike.
Earlier this month, a shopkeeper was thrashed by angry locals in Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad for allegedly serving fruit juices mixed with urine to customers.
