Tests on Delhi eateries show high level of faecal matter in street food

The study by Institute of Hotel Management, Catering and Nutrition, Pusa, shows extremely high volume of E. coli bacteria, which can cause severe infections, in these snacks

NEW DELHI: If you were so far unable to fight the urge of digging into spicy water-filled crispy golgappas or steaming momos, here's a very strong - and shocking - reason: the latest study has found high faecal contamination in such fast food and junk food items, especially in several west and central Delhi localities.

Underlining that street food and hygiene have always been strange bedfellows, the study by Institute of Hotel Management, Catering and Nutrition, Pusa, shows extremely high volume of E. coli bacteria, which can cause severe infections, in these snacks.

Taking note of the report, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has written to Delhi's food safety commissioner to check the quality of street food items.

"We conducted the study to analyse the microbial load in Delhi's street food. It was done with a survey of commonly consumed street food by 100 individuals," said Dr Arpita Sharma of the Institute of Hotel Management, Catering and Nutrition.

"We chose five locations in West Delhi, where daily sales were the maximum, for collecting samples. For microbial analysis, five street and five franchisee food products were taken from the most popular shops. We collected food samples (samosa, golgappa, burger and momos) twice from the street shops and franchisee outlets at a one-month interval," she said, adding that the samples were drawn from west and central Delhi. Also read: Milk and oil used by street vendors under govt scanner

To the surprise of scientists, even samples from posh areas like Connaught Place were found infected with bacteria. Other famous markets from where samples were lifted are Rajouri Garden main market, Rajendra Place and Subash Nagar.

The normal Most Probable Number (MPN) of coliform bacteria is 50 or less as per the Central Pollution Control Board, but it was found to be over 2,400 in the samples of branded burger, vegetarian and non-vegeterian momos and other food items.

The bacterial pathogens commonly found in street eateries are Bacillus cereus (causes vomiting and diarrhoea), Clostridium perfringens (abdominal cramps and diarrhoea), Staphylococcus aureus (vomiting, appetite loss, abdominal cramps and mild fever) and Salmonella species (typhoid, food poisoning, irritation and inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract).

"This is a matter of great concern. I would never eat street food after reading this report," said Dr Shobha Broor, microbiologist at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). "The report literally means that whatever we eat, we are ingesting faeces."

The presence of coliform in the samples indicates the absence of clean water as well as unhygienic conditions at the place where the food was prepared. "E. coli ends up in food through faecal matter. The source could be contaminated water. At most of the street vendors, or even branded outlets, the quality of water and handling of food lack supervision," the report states.

Other experts Mail Today spoke to also confirmed that the study's findings were worrisome. Dr Manoj Singh, professor at department of pathology, AIIMS, said: "E. coli can cause many diseases, like typhoid and cholera. Street food handlers should be trained for maintaining health and hygiene."

Dr Sharma said: "A positive coliform test in golgappa water is a direct indication of faecal contamination. There was high bacteria count in burgers, momos and samosas too . In burgers and momos, the vendors use raw vegetables that increase chances of cross-contamination of various disease-causing bacteria.

Contamination

As far as samosas are concerned, potatoes and spices get contaminated due to unhygienic food handling practices. Bacterial and fungus contamination depend on weather too. In summers and rains, bacteria and fungi get conducive environment to circulate freely."

In India, the Food Safety & Standards Act of 2006 covers food items and regulates their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import for safe human consumption. According to the Act, any person who manufactures or processes any food item in unhygienic or unsanitary conditions shall be liable to a penalty up to Rs 1 lakh. Harmful food which may cause death can also get the seller imprisoned.

"We frequently check the quality of food items. I need to see the complaint and the concern expressed by FSSAI. Then we will lift samples from the said areas and test these in our laboratories. If the shops are found guilty, proper penal action will be taken against them," said B.P. Mishra, administrative officer with the department of food safety, Delhi government.

"As for street vendors, we are streamlining the community. We have made it mandatory for them to register with the government so that we know who is operating where. We are also arranging training programmes for them and providing them with safe drinking water," he added.