A street food vendor in Ludhiana has triggered massive backlash online after a video surfaced showing him dipping sealed plastic oil pouches directly into a hot kadhai to open them—melting the plastic in the process.
The clip, which has gone viral on X with over 4 million views, shows the vendor preparing pakoras under a flyover at Gill Chowk. Instead of cutting open the oil pouches, he plunges them into boiling oil, letting the melted plastic release the contents. When asked by a vlogger, he casually explains, “They open immediately once the oil is hot enough.”
The video also shows him handling batter with bare hands and selling snacks like aloo-methi bread pakoras and deep-fried “hot dogs” for just ₹10.
Health experts are calling the act hazardous. Fitness coach Shashi Iyengar sarcastically dubbed it a “genius method,” while another user, “The Skin Doctor,” warned that heating plastic like this releases harmful toxins such as dioxins, phthalates, BPA, and styrene—linked to cancer, hormone disruption, and other serious health issues.
The video has prompted calls for urgent action from the FSSAI and local authorities, with many urging people to avoid unsafe street food practices.