The Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government once again rekindled the controversy over nameplate dictate by ordering that all restaurants and eateries in the state will have to prominently display the names and addresses of operators, proprietors, managers and staff. The UP government also said that police verification drives will be held to ensure compliance with what the authorities described as measures against adulteration.
Taking cognisance of incidents of spitting and mixing of urine in eatables in Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the presence of human waste in food items was disgusting and ordered strict action against those who adulterate food items with human waste or dirty things.
What Adityanath Said?
Addressing a high-level meeting in Lucknow on Tuesday, Adityanath also directed that chefs and waiters should wear masks and gloves, besides making installation of CCTV cameras in hotels and restaurants mandatory. He also gave instructions for thorough investigation, and verification of all hotels, dhabas, restaurants, and related establishments in the state.
Instructions were also given to amend the rules as per the need while ensuring the health and safety of the general public. "Dhabas, restaurants and food establishments should be thoroughly investigated and police verification of every employee should be done and necessary amendments should also be made in the Food Safety and Standards Act to ensure the purity and sanctity of food items," the Chief Minister said.
The chief minister said this action should be completed quickly by a joint team of Food Safety and Drug Administration, police and local administration.
The move came after a purported video showing a teenager spitting on rotis while preparing them at an eatery in Saharanpur district went viral on social media, leading to the arrest of the facility’s owner. Last week, a juice vendor in Ghaziabad district was also arrested for allegedly serving fruit juices mixed with urine to customers. In June, two men were arrested in Noida for allegedly selling juice contaminated with their spits.
'The Nameplate Controversy'
Earlier this year, the Uttar Pradesh government had ordered food stalls and fruit vendors along Kanwar Yatra routes to display the names of shop owners. The government argued the directive, which was criticised by a section of people, was aimed at promoting transparency and informed choice of kanwariyas regarding the food they eat.