Street foods have a mass following of their own. When I was younger, I thought that eating Bhelpuri from a street food stall was the coolest thing ever and so when I visited my relatives in Pune and Mumbai years back, I was very eager to have Bhelpuri and enjoyed it very much.
Needless to say, my young son got diarrhea after consuming milkshake and I later learned that they used milk straight from the packet without boiling. He became better when we returned home. After that incident, I have always been careful about street foods.
Speaking of my state, Kerala, streetfoods were a rare thing. Even now, it is not so popular. I have sometimes spotted some stalls here and there but it is usually frequented only by the labourers from other states who miss their homely foods. There are 'Thattu kadas' (shops) though, but they arrive only late at night to cater to people like truck drivers.
Things to remember before you jump in excitement when you see a street food vendor. Please do not think that I am a spoilsport. 😆
Notice if the street food vendor's place is clean. Is it near a garbage dump? Is it near a drainage system? If so, stay away from this vendor.
Are there flies hovering near the food? Are people using their hands to drive away the flies? Go away from the place.
Does the vendor sell fried foods that have been prepared in oil that is used again and again? You can see this is the case if the oil is black. Please do not even think of consuming that food. Even if the vendor uses tissue paper to absorb the excess oil, it is not worth it. I need not point out the harmful effects of eating such foods. You might think that I speak as if I use oil only once. I do reuse oil but not like the street vendors do and yea, the oil usage is much less if I am the one who is cooking.
Do notice if the street vendor's hands are clean. Some people have swollen fingers that are not very pleasing to the sight, especially if they are cooking and serving food. I would certainly avoid eating it. The pain puri seller has to use his thumb to break open the puri, right? Imagine if he has a finger condition. Yikes. Better to prepare one's food at home or else visit a clean place where they make sure that the food is prepared hygienically and served properly as well.
I do realize that not everyone can afford a high-end restaurant but please avoid unclean street food stalls that spell nothing but trouble and cause serious illnesses. Also, if you have a craving for such foods, you can always try to prepare them by yourself or order them from a place where you know they have certain standards. Food apps are very popular and also you can be sure that they will not compromise the standards as the ratings will be affected.
