Lucknow: Spitting or contaminating food items by mixing human waste would soon be a cognisable and non-bailable offence in Uttar Pradesh as the state government prepared to bring in two ordinances in this connection. The action comes following multiple incidents of food contamination, majorly by street vendors, videos of which have also gone viral.
At a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday, the provisions of the “Prevention of Pseudo and Anti-Harmony Activities and Prohibition of Spitting Ordinance 2024” and the “Uttar Pradesh Prevention of Contamination in Food (Consumer Right to Know) Ordinance 2024” were discussed.
It was decided that the new provisions would also include strict measures against food establishment employees found to be “illegal foreign citizens.” This decision follows the state government’s recent mandate requiring eatery owners and managers to prominently display their names, amid reports of spitting and urine contamination in food, Indian Express reported.
A government official said instances of adulteration of food items such as dal, roti and juice with human waste have shown indelible and filthy behaviour in parts of the country. The report said these acts adversely affect people’s health besides disrupting social harmony.
The state government has decided to put a stop to such incidents through strict laws, the official said.