Golgappa Vendors Arrested For Kneading Dough With Feet, Mixing Harpic 'For Taste'

Food safety has become a major worry in most parts of the country. People have time and again reported being unwell after consuming food from stores or restaurants that operate in unsanitary circumstances. Not just this, concerns over hygiene standards of many street foods vendors have also been raised. Recently, a video of two golgappa sellers is doing rounds on the internet showing the unhygienic process of making the famous street food. This has enraged many online and as per reports, the vendors are also facing legal action.

A frightening video from Jharkhand’s Garhwa region has stirred controversy. The video shows two men kneading dough for golgappa with their bare feet. Several packets of prepared golgappa are seen lying nearby. The clip was shared on X and mentioned that the police have arrested the duo for going against health standards. The caption along with the clip warned people who frequently eat golgappa to beware. When the video emerged on social media, reportedly, there was outrage among local residents. They expressed their rage against the accused, claiming that no one has the right to endanger the health of consumers.

Moreover, later, the accused also admitted to using harmful substances in the food for taste. According to a report by ABP, during police investigation, the accused admitted to adding urea and Harpic (toilet cleaner) to the Golgappa to improve their flavour. Arvind Yadav, one of the shopkeepers who makes golgappa, revealed that he had a fight with his cousins Anshu and Raghavendra about shopkeeping a few days earlier. Following the argument, they captured a video showing both shopkeepers kneading flour with their feet. The police also shut down their shop following the incident.

Akash Kumar, the police station in-charge, claimed that both shopkeepers are from Uttar Pradesh. One of them, Arvind Yadav, 35, is from Soma village in Jhansi district, and the other, Satish Kumar Srivastava, 30, is from Noorpur village in Jalaun district. The police officer reported that a solid substance like white alum was found with the accused. The material will be sent to a laboratory for testing to take the investigation forward. Meanwhile, the accused’s parents have been summoned. Following these formalities, the necessary legal action will be conducted, and the shopkeepers will be punished for their offence.