Food safety in urban India is largely a matter of consumer responsibility rather than vendor compliance. While some street vendors do maintain professional hygiene standards, the choice of where and what to eat remains critical for health. Hygiene is a personal discipline, we need to return to traditional values, including simple diets, adequate sleep, and respect for family structures. Move away from “Sofasana”—a sedentary lifestyle dominated by sofas, screens, and junk food—and instead adopt “Yogasana” to prevent lifestyle-related health risks such as sudden cardiac events, said Dr Mohsin Wali, a Padma Shri awardee and Honorary Physician to three former Presidents of India.
The expert was responding to a question by the Yuva sustainability intern on promoting safe food practices and sustainable health measures in Indian cities, during 1st Yuva Sustainability Webinar on Climate Change and Health: Communication Matters.
Arka Mukhopadhyay, a 4th year B Tech, Dairy Technology student at University of West Bengal, is a Yuva Sustainability Intern.