Soya batter with a half-naked worker: The video causing a stir in India
In footage that has gone viral, a worker is seen being dragged inside a huge vat with 'soya chaap' batter while half-naked, alongside raw materials placed on the floor. While authorities have launched an official investigation to check the location and date of the filming, food experts warn of severe contamination and the industry is trying to calm the situation.
Law enforcement and food safety authorities in India have launched a comprehensive investigation following a disturbing viral video that has sparked widespread public outrage on social media. The footage raises serious concerns regarding the improper and unsanitary handling of 'soya chaap' batter — a popular soy-based meat substitute that is particularly common in the north of the country.
The 37-second video was initially linked to a production facility in Sector 27 in the city of Noida (a satellite city near New Delhi in the state of Uttar Pradesh). According to reports in the 'Dainik Jagran' newspaper, the video shows a half-naked worker being dragged inside a large vat filled with the food batter, while another person sprays water on him and other workers operate machines in the immediate vicinity — all this alongside raw materials placed directly on the factory floor.
Professional authorities in the country clarify that the full picture is still being examined and that an initial check does not definitively confirm that the video was indeed filmed within the city limits. According to a report in the daily newspaper 'Loksatta', it is possible that these are old images taken in the city of Agra, which is about 180 kilometers away. Final conclusions will be published only after the investigation is completed.
Storm on social media and concerns for public health
The dissemination of the footage caused a wave of widespread anger, with many users demanding that the authorities conduct urgent surprise inspections at all production sites for meat substitutes and toughen sanctions against lawbreakers. At the same time, experts in the food and health sector clarified that such poor production conditions could lead to the proliferation of bacteria, the attraction of pests, and severe digestive system infections, and emphasized the necessity of ongoing supervision.
On the other hand, sources in the local food industry warned against generalizations that would harm the entire sector based on a single piece of footage, and recommended that consumers ensure they purchase products from businesses with proven quality and hygiene standards.
