Thursday, 27 July 2023 | PNS | DEHRADUN
Due to the skyrocketing prices of tomatoes, the fast food sellers in the city have drastically reduced their usage while preparing the food. Recently, with the steep hike in the prices of tomatoes, the popular fast food chain McDonald’s has stopped using tomatoes in their burgers and wraps.
So, it is no surprise that most of the street vendors who run fast food stalls in the city are steering clear of tomatoes. “Given this vegetable’s soaring prices, it is impossible for us to use tomatoes while preparing the chutney served along with fast food. We are using curd and mango powder instead,” runs the common refrain among the fast food sellers.
A fast food seller Manish Rai said that tomato is almost an indispensable vegetable for preparing soup, noodles and momos. “Besides, it is an essential item in preparing chutney which is normally served along with the momos. However, the shooting tomato prices have forced me to reduce its use in preparing noodles or any other fast food. At this time when we can hardly expect a price ease in immediate future, we are using mango powder for adding a tangy flavour to the chutney. Besides, I even use a red bell pepper to redden the chutney,” he said.
While talking to this correspondent, another fast food seller Raghav Ghai said that with the price of tomatoes going out of bounds for them, most of the sellers have been forced to drop tomato chutney from their menu. “I sell momos sans tomato chutney,” he lamented, adding that he has been left with no other option. He further said, “I am not using tomatoes at all in the food items where the use of tomato is not essential.” He added that he was using vinegar in the soups he was preparing for sale.
