CII's support for Quality and Safety Upgradation of Street Food in India

The socio-economic role of Street Food, in terms of serving food at affordable prices to the lower and middle-income groups and its employment potential is well known. Its been growing rapidly all over the world and India is no exception.

The National Policy for Urban Street Vendors/Hawkers notes that street vendors constitute approximately 2% of the Indian population of metropolises which is roughly estimated at around 10 million. Majority of these are street food vendors. Besides employment generation, the reasons for the growing popularity of street food vending is its easy accessibility with variety in taste at low cost and is fresh and often nutritious. It also provides a social support system for the under privileged urban population.

Recognizing this global trend, particularly in major Asian cities, FAO and WHO have promoted documents on "Food Safety requirements for Street Vendor Foods" and also on "Training Aspects" of safe food for small operators and inspectors. Presently, countries like Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia have put together a structured national program to promote food safety in street vended food.

In India, despite the educated consumers being quite aware of the questionable food safety aspects of street food, street food continues to remain popular, providing the much-needed services that neither the municipalities nor the larger retail outlets can provide. In the wake of its popularity, it is imperative to:

    • Ensure and endorse hygienic aspects in street food through appropriate design of vending machines (by reducing the risk of contamination by food hazards) and education to vendors on safe food
    • Provide infrastructure and facilities like potable water and appropriate waste disposal systems to the street vendors.
    • Promote consumer awareness on food safety


In this backdrop, The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), Government of India, has taken a progressive initiative for upgrading the Quality of Street Food in India. Thanks to the visionary outlook of Mr Subodh Kant Sahai, Honb’le Minister of Food Processing Industries, Govt. of India, this idea was floated by him in one of the meetings with the representatives of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and advised CII - Food Safety and Quality Division in December 2005 to work out a plan for Improving Quality and Safety of street food in India.

CII responded by presenting the first Comprehensive Plan to Mr. P. Suvrathan, Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries incorporating the whole gamut of activities needed for implementing hygienic practices amongst the street food vendors across the country. Mr. Suvrathan, while appreciating and critically reviewing the Plan, supplemented it further with his valuable inputs on street food status across the continents and the Codex status. He advised CII to develop standards bearing in mind ethnic food of India. This marked the beginning of a series of actions and initiatives to operationalise Project "National Programme on upgradation of Quality of Street Food in India".


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