Mango milkshake for just Rs.15? FDA will find how

Despite its costly ingredients, roadside vendors are selling the drink at low prices
This is the question dogging Shashikant Kekare, joint commissioner of Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), Pune for the last few days: Considering the cheapest variety of mango would cost Rs10 per piece and the price of milk costs Rs35 per litre on an average, how can a glass of thick mango milkshake cost Rs15?
With the summer reaching its peak, most people tend to frequent roadside stalls for a quick cold drink or iced gola to beat the heat. “But recently we got information that some street vendors sell mango
milkshakes for Rs15 a glass. How is that possible considering the price of basic ingredients like mangoes and milk used? Surely there is something wrong here. And this is just one food item but during summer, people also gorge on cold drinks and ice-creams at roadside stalls without bothering about quality,” said Kekare.
In many instances, street vendors use sub-standard raw materials, preservatives and colour that can
seriously harm people and this drive would ensure such instances are avoided.
While the public may not be bothered, the FDA officials are worried and this summer, they have decided to kick-off a special drive to ensure hygiene and quality is scrupulously maintained at these stalls.
Not just that, the department has decided to ensure that all roadside vendors get registered with the FDA and if any registered vendor is found using sub-standard material, the strictest action would follow.
For this purpose, the department has set its sights on the city’s busiest streets followed by most favoured ‘khau-gallis’ (eatery spots) of the city.
“During summer, people eat out at street vendors’ stalls and at most times during the rush, the quality of food items gets compromised. This results in food and waterborne infections. This year, we have decided to have an intensified campaign against roadside stalls ensuring they get registered, follow all quality controls. We will check their raw materials and final products, handlers and storage conditions,” said Kekare. The drive would especially concentrate on stalls selling cold drinks, ice golas, milkshakes and sherbets, which are most popular during summer. More than two dozen staffers of FDA would be involved in this special drive.
What OFFICIALS will check for
- Stalls should be registered with FDA under Food Safety Standards Act, 2006
- Raw material, water are of good quality, stored in clean conditions
- Prepared food is covered
- Regular cleaning of machine and equipment
- Cleanliness of food handlers