Kolkata, March 24, 2026:
In a significant step towards strengthening public health and enhancing the quality of street food in the city, Doctors’ Choice, a leading cooking oil brand in Eastern India, has launched a comprehensive Food Safety & Hygiene Initiative for Kolkata’s street food vendors. The programme is being implemented in collaboration with the Bharat Chamber of Commerce as the training partner, with advisory support from the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC).
The initiative reflects a robust collaboration between industry stakeholders, academic institutions, and civic authorities to institutionalise safe food practices at the grassroots level and uplift Kolkata’s vibrant street food ecosystem.
The launch event witnessed the unveiling of the initiative’s logo, mascot, and hygiene apron—symbols representing responsibility, trust, and safe food practices. The occasion was graced by eminent personalities including food historian Shri Haripada Bhowmik; Shri Dhinal Brahmbhatt, Chief Business Officer, Doctors’ Choice; Shri Shivam Agarwal, Head – Marketing & Strategy, Doctors’ Choice; noted foodpreneur Shri Shiladitya Chaudhury; Ms Rudrani Mitra from Bharat Chamber of Commerce; and Mr Dominic Lee Pou, Managing Director, Pou Chong Food Products.
Marking the beginning of a citywide awareness campaign, a branded outreach tableau was also flagged off to engage both vendors and citizens in promoting structured food safety standards.
This initiative is designed to position Kolkata’s celebrated street food culture on the global culinary map while aligning it with national and international food safety benchmarks. It seeks to introduce structured hygiene protocols, improve regulatory awareness, and build long-term consumer confidence.
As part of the programme, expert-led workshops will be conducted across prominent street food hubs including Dacres Lane, Teritti Market, Sector V, Park Street (Camac Street), Dalhousie, North Kolkata, Zakaria Street, and key hospital areas.
Speaking on the initiative, Shri Dhinal Brahmbhatt stated:
Kolkata’s street food culture is a symbol of the city’s pride, reflecting its rich heritage and diverse communities. This initiative goes beyond awareness to focus on structured implementation—equipping vendors with practical tools to enhance hygiene standards, build consumer trust, and support sustainable business growth. We are grateful to Kolkata Municipal Corporation . As a responsible brand, we remain committed to contributing to healthier food ecosystems.
The programme underscores the importance of structured hygiene interventions in strengthening public health frameworks while supporting vendor welfare. Training modules, developed with technical inputs will focus on key aspects such as safe food handling, personal hygiene, effective handwashing techniques, waste management, and identification of hygiene gaps.
Designed to address the realities of busy, resource-constrained environments, the sessions will offer practical, easily implementable solutions that vendors can adopt without disrupting their livelihoods.
Participants will receive hygiene kits comprising protective gloves, caps, aprons, hand sanitisers, informational guidelines, and essential food safety tools. Vendors who successfully complete the training will also be awarded certification, encouraging compliance and fostering trust among consumers.
By translating established food safety and hospitality standards into simple, actionable practices, the initiative aims to create a scalable and sustainable model that supports both economic resilience and public health priorities.
Through this programme, Doctors’ Choice reinforces its role not just as a leading edible oil brand, but as a responsible partner in shaping a safer, healthier, and more resilient street food landscape in Kolkata.
