Diners opt for bottled water amid hygiene concerns

Pune: Diners are being cautious amid GBS cases and ordering bottled water at restaurants, but have been left disgruntled with costs as high as Rs250.
Kondhwa resident Minal Joshi said, "We went for a meal on the weekend and I ordered bottled water. The restaurant only had glass bottles available and these cost Rs250 each. It's equal to the price of one dish and very expensive overall."
Additionally, customers have expressed concern about cleanliness standards of kitchens and quality of raw salads, sauces and chutneys served.
"GBS has made me slightly paranoid. We have stopped eating chutney when we order idli/dosa, because we are unsure of the water used. Also, we no longer consume raw salads outside of home, since one can never be certain whether it has been washed well," said Nisha Maniar, a resident of Mundhwa.
Meanwhile, sale of bottled water has almost doubled over the last two weeks, said restaurant owners.
"We have been holding awareness programmes and trying to encourage restaurants to follow proper hygiene protocols. Customers avoid normal RO water these days and have been ordering bottled water. Glass bottles offer a premium experience to clients and can be reused, so many restaurants are stocking it alone," said Ajinkya Udane, co-chapter head in Pune of the National Restaurant Association of India.
Founder of Hippie@Heart Karan Kripalani said, "There has been an increase in sale of bottled water. We are a pocket-friendly place and offer options of both plastic and glass bottles. We have been following all food safety protocols and are awaiting instructions from the authorities about what else may be required."
Jessica Sonawane, a resident of Kalyaninagar, said, "Restaurants claim to use RO water, but I am not sure if it's safe to drink — especially since authorities are saying water should be boiled before consumption. Customers are not allowed to carry their own water in most restaurants. I have totally stopped eating out for now."
People turn cautious when it is something to do with health, said Saili Jahagirdar, who runs Zillionth Bistro in Kothrud. "We did see an initial drop in orders when news of GBS was reported. The situation started to improve gradually with more awareness on the subject. Most diners are ordering bottled water and also asking if we take all hygiene precautions," she added.