Mid-Day Opinion: Consumers must not tolerate unsafe food

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The heat on eat is on as Food and Drug Administration (FDA) raids are ongoing and food establishments and outlets in the city are under scrutiny. Well-known restaurants are being ordered to shut shop for various reasons, the prime being unhygienic practices and improper storage of ingredients.

While famous outlets in FDA trouble continue to hit the headlines and iconic eateries are losing licences, leaving Mumbaikars shocked, a big part of these raids are food safety violations.

This is a wake-up call for the consumer who obviously cannot check the chain from where the products were bought, but can check the expiration dates before buying them. It is actually up to the store not to stock expired foods/products. Yet, a provision store in Bandra actually stated on its shelves that buyers need to check expiry dates before purchasing any items, as they are short-staffed! If one sees that an outlet is stocking expired products quite often, speak to the owner/proprietor.

If the FDA comes up with a whistleblower mechanism where consumers can complain anonymously through an avenue, these can act as a huge check for stores and food outlets. A complaint line/number can be made public on social media, stating what exactly consumers can complain about. It may also be worth considering whether these numbers can be put up near food places and provision stores. Then, of course, the legitimacy of the complaint must be established and action taken if warranted. In this way, the consumer/patron becomes the first watchdog, prompting places to clean up their act and make it service not just with a smile but with food safety too.