Scan & Serve: UP Puts Food Safety on the Menu with Mandatory QR Codes Before Kanwar Yatra

Key Highlights

 

Before the massive Kanwar Yatra pilgrimage on July 11, the Uttar Pradesh government has requested all food outlets on the 240-km Kanwar route to display QR code stickers that are linked to the Food Safety CONNECT App. The technological step is to enhance hygiene, transparency, and accountability for the four crore pilgrims likely to use the route.

 

Digital Transparency and Hygiene Reform

 

The QR stickers provide immediate access to vital information like the name of the food premises owner, the registration number, address, and menu by scanning through the Food Safety CONNECT App.

 

Pilgrims can also lodge complaints about food quality or food safety issues using the app, and the food safety authorities will inspect immediately.

 

The authorities have stated this is not only a technological innovation; it is a comprehensive reform to deliver food hygiene and safety across the pilgrimage path.

 

Enforcement and Compliance Actions

 

Food and Drug Administration personnel have been going around placing these QR stickers on all the restaurants, from street food stalls to fancy restaurants.

 

The FSDA also directed the shopkeepers to exhibit rate lists prominently and maintain high levels of sanitation.

 

Inspections led to the destruction of expired items and uncovered juices, particularly in locations like Muzaffarnagar, Lucknow, Meerut, and Ayodhya.

 

Non-vegetarian dhabas on the way have been ordered to be shut during the period of the Yatra in deference to local sentiment.

 

Public Reaction and Controversies

 

While the authorities are advocating the advantage of electronic tracing and consumer strength, there are traders comparing the QR sticker requirement to last year's controversial nameplate rule, which had caused protests and inter-communal violence.

Complaints have also been raised about information and privacy provided, and calls for more transparency about kitchen hygiene and staff details.

 

Total Impact

 

The step aligns with the state government's goal to safeguard the health of crores of pilgrims through the use of technology and strict regulatory control. The QR code system should increase accountability, assist in reducing food adulteration, and offer a cleaner and more transparent pilgrimage.

 

Sources: New Indian Express, News18, India Today, Hindustan Times