The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has reportedly taken action against stalls selling biryani illegally in open and unhygienic areas in Calangute. Authorities have seized equipment from seven stalls. It is learnt that biryani was being sold without the permission of the FDA. Small stalls were reportedly operating in front of luxury hotels, and the areas around the stalls were dirty. Factors such as improper food handling, inadequate refrigeration, or unsanitary conditions can increase the risk of food contamination and the transmission of bacteria, viruses, or parasites. It is understood that biryani was being sold at just Rs. 100 per plate.
It must be said that cheap roadside food stalls cater to the needs of low-budget tourists. These low-budget tourists either have cheap food at roadside stalls or cook their own food by the wayside. These tourists are obviously a nuisance as they litter the surrounding areas.
If we are to discourage these low-budget tourists from coming to Goa, then the authorities concerned need to act against cooking food by the wayside and the availability of cheap food. These tourists do not bring revenue to the state, as most of them sleep either under the night sky in open areas, on the beach sand, or in their own vehicles.
There is a difference between cheap food and street food. Street food vendors operate after obtaining proper permission and are enjoyed by people belonging to all economic classes, including locals. Street food vendors specialise in preparing snacks that may taste better than those available in hotels.
On the contrary, cheap food like biryani and other foods sold by roadside stalls are also available in hotels and restaurants, and the sale of such food in makeshift stalls should be banned. Luxury hotels should act against these food stalls operating in front of their premises. If Goa is to attract quality tourists, then food should only be available in hotels and restaurants, not by the roadside as is the case in other states.
