INDORE: Swachh #1 Indore’s ‘clean sweep’ continues. The famous eat streets of 56 Dukan and Sarafa Chowpaty bagged the ‘Clean Street Food Hub’ certification from Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on Wednesday.
For 56 Dukan, it was the second certification. Indore has now joined the league of big cities like Mumbai and Ahmedabad, which have received multiple FSSAI awards.
On Wednesday, shopkeepers and officials celebrated with sweets and balloons, and customers had a taste of the success too.
The FSSAI certification – valid for two years -- is given for adopting best practices like garbage disposal, personal hygiene, demarcation of cooking and non-cooking areas, streetlights, pest control and cleanliness.
Indore collector Manish Singh said, “We are committed to ensure that only high quality products are available in the market. Street-food markets like 56 Dukan and Sarafa act as motivation for others after meeting FSSAI standards.”
Chhappan Dukan – one of the must-visit areas of Indore – got its first FSSAI certification in 2019. The certification process of Sarafa Chowpaty, a unique night food street that replaces the city’s traditional bullion market at dusk, had started early in 2020, but could not be completed due to theCovid-19.
Food safety officer Pushpak Dwivedi said the certifications were issued after both food markets passed a third-party audit carried out a few days ago. Shopkeepers at Sarafa and 56 Dukan had been made aware of FSSAI regulations and trained to maintain hygiene.
“We completed most of the training virtually during the first lockdown,” said 56 Dukan Vyapari Association president Gunjan Sharma, adding: “Following Covid-appropriate behavior is a big task. Everyone working here was vaccinated.”
What won the two eat streets the awards is a series of good practices – use of quality raw material in food, giving away used cooking oil to biodiesel firms, separate refrigerators and utensils for veg and non-veg food, food safety officer Dharmendra Soni said. Workers are given medical check-ups.
As per FSSAI regulations, all workers must maintain personal hygiene, wear gloves and cover their heads. Shops must use RO water, cook and serve in steel utensils, wash utensils in liquid soap (not powder) and properly dispose of leftovers.
Khajrana Ganesh Mandir had received FSSAI’s BHOG (Blissful Hygienic Offering to God) certificate in 2019.
