58 Pani Puri Stalls In Chennai Raided After Cancer-Causing Chemicals Were Found In Pani Puri Samples In Karnataka

Officials from the Food Safety Department in Chennai raided about 58 pani puri shops in the city on Tuesday. This raid comes after Karnataka’s Food Safety Department found carcinogenic chemicals in many pani puri samples they lifted from local shops. Officials in Chennai raided shops and carts across the city and even picked samples for testing. One of their biggest concerns after the raid was the lack of hygiene by the vendors.

58 Pani Puri Shops Raided By Food Safety Department In Chennai

Pani puri shops have come under the scanner in Chennai. Officials from the Food Safety Department raided about 58 pani puri and street food shops in the city. As per a report in The Hindu, the raid was conducted at shops and push carts across the city, including 10 on the popular Marina Beach.

P. Satheesh Kumar, Designated Officer, Food Safety Department, Chennai led the raid. While talking to The Hindu about this, he said that his team aims to raid at least 700 more shops across the city in the next two to three days. They will inspect and pick samples for testing from these stores.

These raids in Chennai came after Karnataka’s Food Safety Department, reportedly, found carcinogenic chemicals in many pani puri samples they picked from various vendors in the state. The presence of cancer-causing chemicals in the popular street food dish raised concerns and compelled officials in Chennai to check samples in their city as well.

Also Read: Kolkata: Street Food Vendors Outside Popular Park Circus Market To Be Rehabilitated

Samples Sent For Testing; Unhygienic Practices A Cause Of Concern

According to The Hindu, Chennai’s Food Safety Department team has samples of masala and sauces from several pani puri outlets across the city. Another important thing they found during the raid was the lack of hygiene at these shops. This has emerged as another cause for concern for the officials.

While talking to The Hindu, P. Satheesh Kumar said that the vendors should wear gloves while serving pani puri. He further suggested using separate ladles for pouring the sauce and adding masala instead of using bare hands. He also suggested using disposable plates for serving pani puri to maintain hygiene.

We can’t wait to see what the sample results are. It is deeply concerning how one of India’s most popular street foods can be so easily spoiled by using harmful chemicals. What are your thoughts about this? Fill us in in the comments section.

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