Uncovered eatables being sold at Jalandhar bus stand

Throwing all norms to the wind, vendors and shopkeepers at Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh Inter-state Bus Stand here have been selling uncovered eatables, putting the consumers' lives at risk.

They are openly defying the guidelines of the Food Safety Act that uncovered eatables should not be sold.

A visit to the bus stand shows that inferior and sub-standard junk food such as paranthas, samosas, kulchas, pakoras, burgers and noodles kept in unhygienic conditions and without any cover is being sold.

Moreover, vendors cook food items using sub-standard oil without following cleanliness and safety standards.

By consuming uncovered eatables people run the risk of getting afflicted with typhoid, hepatitis and diarrhea, but the health department doesn't seem to care. The department has failed to stop the sale of uncovered food items here.

Manpreet Brar, a student who often travels by bus, says the behaviour of the vendors is rude and they keep all eatables uncovered. He says the commuters have no other option but to eat poor-quality food, adding that the health department seems helpless as it does not take strict action against the offenders.

Karan Kumar, a commuter, says the eatables are displayed right in the line of vehicle emissions and these also had flies hovering over them besides being exposed to dirt. He says the insanitary conditions at the stalls and the shopkeepers not wearing gloves while preparing the eatables compounds the problem.

Kamal, a vendor, says they have no option but to sell the items uncovered as there is a stiff competition and people should be able to see the merchandise from a distance.

District health officer Dr Balwinder Singh says the health department officials repeatedly visit the food stalls at the bus stand and take samples from several shops, adding that they have no other option but to issue challans to them.