Unhygienic cut fruits and veggies a health hazard

ALLAHABAD: Even as hot weather is forcing the denizens to stay indoor, eatables and cut fruits being sold in various localities of the city are posing serious health hazard because of which cases of stomach upset and diarrhoea are on the rise.
Although open food and fruits could be found being sold in almost all localities of the city, but some of the prominent places include spots outside and within zila kutchehry (district collectorate), UP board office, roadside vendors besides Allahabad High Court, different banks, Loknath, Medical College crossing, Bairana, etc.Apart from these, there are many famous eateries located in the outskirts of the city, where chat sellers are a common site.
The vendors in and around the district collectorate brazenly sell fruit salad and other eatables to the people, caring little that juicy fruits could land them with upset stomach.
Likewise, roadside vendors opposite Allahabad High Court too sell open fruit salad. “Not only there is so much of dust on this busy road, but the vendor seldom cleans his hands to serve or cut the fruits,” said an advocate, R K Pandey. It is both the vendors and the lawyers who are to be blamed as there is demand that why these vendors sell their product, he added.
“We carry out random checking drive against uncovered eatables and several roadside shops selling ‘unhygienic’ eatables and fresh raids would soon be carried out and we are not going to spare anyone who is involved in selling fruits, juices or other eateries in open,” said a senior officer in the department of Food Safety and Drug Administration, Hari Mohan Srivastava.
“There is an increase in number of patients suffering with one or other ailment related with stomach and remarkably it is not only the rural populace but there is a steady rise in numbers of patients coming from decent economic and educated background,” said former professor and head of the department of Gastroentrology, MLN Medical College, Dr Manisha Dwivedi.