Customer's Food Spit On and Urinated... This Place Takes Out a Knife with Up to 10 Years Imprisonment

India, Video of Spitting on Food and Urinating Spreads
False Rumors Claiming Muslims Responsible Spark Religious Conflict
Fines, CCTV, Imprisonment Laws Introduced... Some Backlash

The Indian government has taken strict measures following the spread of videos showing food being deliberately tampered with before being served to guests. On the 28th (local time), the British BBC reported, "The northern Indian state of Uttarakhand is set to introduce a bill imposing fines of up to 100,000 rupees (approximately 1.64 million KRW) on those who contaminate food." The neighboring state of Uttar Pradesh also plans to enact similar legislation.

Stock photo of Indian street food, unrelated to the article content

Recently, videos showing street vendors in India spitting on food have circulated widely online. In particular, a video showing a woman mixing urine into food sparked intense controversy. Rumors circulated that the woman was a Muslim harboring resentment against Hinduism, escalating tensions between religious communities. However, police investigations confirmed that the woman is Hindu.

These videos have raised widespread concerns about food safety in India. Consequently, two state governments have moved to legislate measures to prevent such incidents. Uttarakhand plans to impose fines of up to 100,000 rupees (approximately 1.64 million KRW) on violators to curb unhygienic practices and mandate the installation of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in kitchens of restaurants above a certain size. Additionally, if someone is caught contaminating food with foreign substances such as saliva, imprisonment of up to 10 years is also being considered.

According to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), unhygienic food causes 600 million infections and 400,000 deaths annually in India. Causes include cramped kitchens, dirty utensils, contaminated water, and improper transportation and storage.

However, there has been considerable backlash against the government’s policy. According to the BBC, opposition parties have questioned the effectiveness of the bill, arguing that the legislation "could be misused to defame specific communities, including other religions." The local media outlet Indian Express pointed out that "it could serve as a signal targeting minorities already in a vulnerable position." The BBC analyzed that "food regulations and taboos in India often lead to inter-religious conflicts, becoming a deeply rooted source of social tension."