Week after week was going to be, at least in part, the standard “food walk” project a well-known digital creator undertook became a public health warning on Monday. During the process of food preparation, filmed at one of the busiest street side stalls, the influencer’s camera caught a direct visual of movement inside the “Aloo Masala” (potato mixture) tub.
When zoomed in slightly more closely, a live mouse was observed burrowing through the mashed potatoes and spices the ones being served to hundreds of unsuspecting shoppers just minutes earlier.
The Viral Outbreak
The video, then posted to Instagram and recently X (formerly Twitter), amassed over 2 million views in three hours. In the video, the influencer faces the vendor who is seen visibly shaken and trying to hide the container from the camera.
Public Reaction:
- “I am never eating street food again,” one user said, a sentiment shared with thousands of users.
- “This is a criminal level of negligence. Where is the food inspector?” another user questioned.
- Several netizens have labeled the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and demanded an immediate suspension of the vendor's license.
Street Food and the Hygiene Crisis
This isn't a one-off occurrence. In the past few months, videos of unhygienic water sources and contaminated ingredients have also appeared in scores of places around the country. However, the occurrence of a live rodent entails a considerable increase in the public health threat, including risk of Leptospirosis, Salmonellosis, and Hantavirus.
Vendor Accountability
After the viral outrage, local municipal authorities have allegedly arrived to pick up samples and check the vendor’s credentials. Early reports indicate that the stall was functioning without a proper health license. It’s health experts who are increasingly warning us to be very, very careful. “Street food culture is the soul of our cities, but a complete lack of pest control and open-air storage is a recipe for disaster,” said a senior health consultant in Mumbai.
How to Spot Unsafe Food Stalls
- Storage: Keep ingredients in closed, stainless steel containers.
- Environment: Look for open drains and garbage near the cooking area.
- Vendor Hygiene: Check does the vendor wear gloves or clean hands when serving.
