Chandigarh: A proposal submitted to the UT administration advocates making live kitchen video feeds accessible in restaurant dining areas and on food-delivery apps, aiming to enforce consumers’ right to safe food through real-time hygiene transparency.Authored by city advocate and Administrator’s Advisory Council member Ajay Jagga, the initiative suggests that installing live cameras in kitchens will allow diners and online customers to observe food preparation standards before consumption.Under the proposed model, restaurants would display live feeds on screens within dining halls, while food-delivery applications could integrate a live stream alongside preparation updates like “Your food is being prepared”.“The system would allow diners to observe chefs and kitchen staff during the preparation process and check whether they are following prescribed dress and hygiene standards. It could also provide visibility into food-handling practices, staff conduct and the overall cleanliness of the kitchen,” stated Jagga.The concept builds on a COVID-19 pandemic-era practice, where several Delhi-NCR hotels and restaurants live-streamed kitchen operations to rebuild consumer trust. The current proposal seeks to convert that voluntary initiative into an established food-safety compliance mechanism.“A combined reading of the applicable regulations, particularly Parts II and V of Schedule 4, highlights the extensive sanitary and hygiene requirements imposed on food business operators (FBOs). An applicant seeking an FBO licence is required to demonstrate compliance with these sanitary conditions, while continuing licence holders are expected to maintain the prescribed standards on an ongoing basis,” stated Jagga.The proposal notes that while customers might not spot their specific order in a busy kitchen, continuous video feeds provide real-time public scrutiny over general kitchen cleanliness, enabling patrons to flag unhygienic practices or cancel orders if necessary.
