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Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: Health dept seizes food samples, shuts stall after video sparks outrage
The Ludhiana health department on Friday seized food samples and halted the operations of a vendor whose video went viral on social media where he was seen dipping sealed plastic oil packets into hot oil for frying fritters. Officials say the vendor can't reopen his food stall until he meets all health and licensing norms. (HT Photo) The video, shared by food blogger Harry Uppal on Instagram, showed a vendor near Gill Chowk engaging in a highly unsafe cooking practice. In the video, the man is seen placing three to four sealed plastic pouches of refined oil directly into a boiling pan. As the heat softens and melts the plastic, the oil is released into the pan and used to fry the fritters. Later, the vendor is seen casually claiming that the method used to open the packets was 'easier' and 'safe', sparking widespread outrage online. Social media users quickly dubbed the food 'microplastics pakodas,' with many expressing serious concern over the potential health risks posed by microplastics and chemical leaching from melted plastic into food. Following public pressure, a team from the city's health department conducted an on-site inspection and seized samples of the gram flour batter, cooked fritters, and condiment (chutney) for laboratory testing. Health department officials also discovered that the vendor had been operating without a valid food safety licence. 'His food stall has been shut down and he has been barred from resuming business until he complies with all health and licensing regulations,' said a department official. 'He was completely unaware of food safety norms and the grave health implications of such a practice. We have issued a strict warning and conducted sensitisation on food hygiene, but operations will remain suspended until full compliance is achieved,' the official added. District health officer Dr Amarjeet Kaur said, 'This time, timely action was possible because the food blogger had clearly mentioned the vendor's exact location,' she said, urging food bloggers and content creators to tag the health department and provide accurate addresses when posting such content. 'This would help us act faster and more effectively,' she added.
India Today
2 days ago
- India Today
Ludhiana vendor dips plastic pouches in hot oil to fry pakode, video sparks outrage
A street food vendor from Ludhiana has sparked outrage online after being caught preparing what social media users dubbed 'microplastic pakode.'In a video shared by food blogger Harry Uppal on Instagram, the vendor is seen dropping sealed plastic oil pouches into a kadhai filled with hot oil. What happens next left viewers furious - as the plastic melts and ruptures, he pours the oil straight into the pan before beginning the cooking hungry, leave speechless,' read the caption, and indeed, viewers were left stunned. The video triggered widespread criticism, with many slamming the vendor for his highly unhygienic cooking practices. Watch the video here: Health coach Shashi Iyengar also shared the video on X, criticising the vendor, saying: 'This street food seller has a 'genius' method of pouring oil - just dip the entire pouch straight into the hot pan. No cutting required! Next up? Engine oil with a side of melted plastic for that ultimate street food flavour.'Several others warned about the serious health hazards involved. See the comments here: This viral video has reignited concerns over food safety and hygiene standards among street vendors, with many urging authorities to take stricter action against such practices.- Ends
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Hindustan Times
‘Microplastic pakode': Internet horrified as Punjab vendor dips plastic in boiling oil
A shocking video from Ludhiana, Punjab, has gone viral, showing a street food vendor dipping plastic directly into boiling oil. The clip has sparked widespread outrage online, with viewers calling the act unsafe, unhygienic, and deeply concerning. A viral Instagram video of a Ludhiana vendor dipping plastic in hot oil for pakode sparked widespread outrage.(@therealharryuppal/Instagram) The vendor, who was preparing pakode (fritters), explained that he was doing it to open the oil packet more easily. But viewers online are horrified after watching the plastic pouch come into direct contact with boiling oil, fearing it could release harmful chemicals into the food. The viral video was shared by Harry Uppal, a popular food blogger, with the caption, 'Come hungry, leave speechless.' People all over social media are calling these viral pakode 'microplastic pakode'. The term has quickly caught on as a way to highlight the shocking and unsafe cooking method. Vendor dips plastic in boiling oil: In the video, the vendor is seen putting the sealed oil pouches directly into boiling oil. As the plastic softens and breaks, he pours the oil straight into the pan to continue frying pakodas. Many viewers were left stunned, with some calling it one of the most concerning food practices they've ever seen. Watch the viral video here: The video not only went viral on Instagram but is also being widely reposted on X (formerly Twitter) due to its concerning content. Social media reacts: Social media users expressed shock, anger, and disappointment over the vendor's actions. Many called it 'disgusting' and 'dangerous,' warning others to be cautious while eating street food. One of the users, Charanjit Sidhu, with a hint of sarcasm, commented, 'My friend visited this stall and said the food was delicious. Those were his last words.' A second user, Omkar, commented, 'Pakode now with new plastic flavour.' A third user, Sawan Kumar, commented, 'Come hungry, leave with cancer.' Another user, Vikalp Singh, commented, 'Microplastic committed suicide here.' A few users even tagged health authorities, urging them to take strict action.
Hindustan Times
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
62-year-old Chandigarh housewife starts street food stall, earning ‘massive respect' online
In a heartwarming example of how age is no barrier to chasing dreams, a 62-year-old woman from Chandigarh has become an inspiration for many. Two months ago, she opened her own street food stall, serving popular items such as dahi bhalla, golgappa, aloo tikki, and chole bhature. Recently, a food vlogger visited her stall and captured her in action as she prepared a plate of dahi puri for a customer. In the video, when the vlogger asked her about her menu, she smiled warmly and proudly listed the dishes she offers. Also read: 'Travelling in 1BHK: Woman shares photo of the 'coolest Uber ride' packed with medicines, food and more Speaking about her journey, she said, 'Before this, I used to be housewife. I was always passionate about food, so I thought I should just do this. Why should I focus on my age? You can take up any hobby at any age.' She further added, 'I have been cooking food for the past 50 years.' The video, shared with the caption '62-Year-Old Lady Selling Chaat And Golgappe,' has already gathered close to 3 lakh views on Instagram. A post shared by Harry Uppal (@therealharryuppal) Viewers were quick to shower her with praise and admiration. One user commented, 'Massive respect for aunty ji, may God bless her.' Another wrote, 'Wow, by the way, those chutneys look really good.' One user wrote, 'Wowwww amazing.' Someone else remarked, 'Aunty ji has a sweet and divine aura.' Another heartwarming message read, 'Wow aunty ji… congratulations on the new start-up… see you,' while many others filled the comment section with red heart and clapping emojis. Earlier in January, another heartwarming video of a 108-year-old man selling vegetables on the streets of Moga, Punjab, captured the attention of social media users. Despite his age, the elderly vendor worked tirelessly, offering onions and potatoes with a smile that reflected an incredible sense of joy and determination. Also read: Miniature dachshund rescued after surviving 529 days alone in woods: 'Evaded venomous snakes' The video, shared by Instagram user Mani, highlighted the centenarian's unwavering commitment to his daily work. In his post, Mani praised the elderly man, describing him as an "incredible soul" and calling his life a "testament to resilience, hard work, and the power of staying grounded." The centenarian's spirited attitude as he tended to his cart with an infectious smile left a lasting impression on viewers, offering a powerful example of perseverance and strength, even in old age. "Met an incredible soul today in Moga, a 108-year-old street vendor still selling onions and potatoes with a smile. His life is a testament to resilience, hard work, and the power of staying grounded. Truly inspiring to witness," wrote Mani, alongside the video that quickly went viral.
NDTV
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Watch: 62-Year-Old Woman Opens Food Stall In Chandigarh, Inspires The Internet
In a world where people often see age as a barrier to starting something new, one woman in Chandigarh is proving that it's never too late to chase your dreams. At 62 years old, she took a bold step by opening her own street food stall - a decision that has since inspired many. Just two months ago, she opened her stall, serving up tasty treats like dahi bhalla, golgappa, aloo tikki, and chole bhature. A food vlogger recently visited her stall, capturing the moment she prepared a plate of dahi puri for a customer. In the video, the vlogger asks her about her menu, and with a warm smile, she proudly lists her offerings. "Before this, I used to be a housewife. I was always passionate about food, so I thought I should just do this. Why should I focus on my age? You can take up any hobby at any age," the woman said. "I have been cooking food for the past 50 years," she added. The caption on the video reads, "62-Year-Old Lady Selling Chaat And Golgappe." Take a look: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Harry Uppal (@therealharryuppal) The video has been viewed nearly 3 lakh times on Instagram, with several people praising the woman for her grit and determination at this age. One user wrote, "Massive respect for aunty ji, may God bless her." Another added, "Wow, by the way, those chutneys look really good." Someone commented, "Aunty ji has a sweet and divine aura." "Wow aunty ji... congratulations on the new start-up... see you," a person commented. Others dropped red hearts and clapping emojis in the comment section. Earlier, a similar video of a 108-year-old man selling onions and potatoes on the streets of Moga, Punjab, went viral on social media. The video showed the elderly vendor smiling and working despite his age. When asked how old he was, he replied in Punjabi, "108." In the video, the vendor is seen taking a sip of water and calling out to passersby with enthusiasm, shouting, "Aloo Pyaaz!" as he continued his day's work. Read the full story here.
