Is your 'pani puri' germ-free? Not quite

The next time that you pop a piece of your favourite roadside pani puri in your mouth, remember that you’re flushing down a host of infections.

Even as DNA caught pani puri vendors using water from toilets to prepare their snacks and regulatory bodies have expressed their helplessness in controlling such practices, doctors say that citizens need to take control over their food habits in view of rising water-borne diseases.

“The main problem is the source of water supply and whether these vendors are using potable water or exploiting any available source of water for food preparations. The other important point is preparation of food, raw materials used and whether it is prepared and kept in open containers exposed to flies, dust and insects like in case of pani puri, sandwich, etc., stalls,” said Dr Anil Panse.

Dr Avinash Bhondwe says his clinic in Shivaji Nagar is frequented mostly by college students who live out of home and eat street food.    

“My clinic is surrounded by half a dozen educational institutes and these students are used to eating out. The food infections through oro-fecal route such as gastro-enteritis, typhoid and dysentery are most common in this group of patients. Patients have got serious diseases like Hepatitis A just by eating street food, but people don’t give up. The taste excites them but they forget to notice the filth,” said Bhondwe.

Panse said while the golden rule would be to avoid street food as far as possible, precautions were a must if at all people have to eat out.

“Not all small-time eateries get a license and use potable water. So it’s best to stick to a bottle of mineral water when eating outside. Also, check if utensils to serve food are clean and washed well. The street vendors generally keep reusing same water to wash utensils which is extremely unhygienic. The cleanliness of food handlers in terms of hand washing, clean nails and clean appearance is most important,” added Panse.

What you should check?
* If all food items are covered.
* Ensure that used plates are washed well, same water isn’t being reused.
* Ask vendor about source of water used for food preparation.
* Don’t eat from roadside stalls standing near open drain.
* The vendor should look clean, wear clean clothes.
* Have bottled water or even a cold drink rather than unsafe water at street stalls.
* Avoid ice in your cold drink. The source of water used in preparing ice is unknown and could contain germs.