09.11.2026 10:30
Footage of a street vendor in Pakistan preparing food was nauseating. It drew attention that the vendor, cooking meat and eggs in pitch-black oil resembling motor oil in a huge pan, handled the food with bare hands. While it is unknown how long the oil had been used, the conditions in which the food was prepared caused serious concerns about hygiene and food safety.
The sight of the oil used by a vendor preparing street food in Pakistan was off-putting. The vendor cooking meat and eggs in a large metal pan drew attention for preparing food in oil that had turned almost completely black. The dark-colored liquid in the pan and the way the food was prepared raised serious questions about food safety.
HE COOKED MEAT AND EGGS IN PITCH-BLACK OIL
In the footage, the vendor wearing a white skullcap is seen preparing food at a large metal pan. While there are large pieces of meat in the pan, the vendor cracks eggs and adds them to the food. He then continues stirring the food with the help of a metal utensil.
However, the most striking detail in the footage is the color of the oil in the pan. The food cooked in the liquid, which has darkened enough to resemble motor oil, raises the question of how long it has been since the oil was changed.
HE TOUCHED THE FOOD WITH HIS BARE HANDS
The vendor’s handling of the food with his bare hands while preparing it also drew attention. The vendor’s preparation process, working in the pan containing large pieces of meat without using any protective gloves, raised concerns about hygiene conditions.
In particular, the appearance of the oil used at high temperature, the condition of the pan, and direct contact with the food brought up the question of under what conditions street food is prepared.
SIMILAR FOOTAGE ALSO APPEARED IN FOREIGN PRESS
The way street food is prepared in Pakistan has also been covered by foreign press before. India-based NDTV and The Daily Guardian, in reports published in September 2025, included footage of a vendor preparing food in darkened oil.
The reports especially focused on the dark color of the oil, the preparation of eggs and meat in the same pan, and the vendor’s handling of the food with his bare hands.
EXPERTS WARN AGAINST REUSED OILS
Using frying oil repeatedly and exposing it to high temperatures for a long time can cause harmful chemical changes in the oil’s structure. While consuming deteriorated oils poses a health risk, unsuitable hygiene conditions can also cause foodborne illnesses.
On the other hand, it is unknown how many times the oil in the footage has been used or how long it has been since it was changed. Although the appearance of the oil alone does not reveal its chemical content, the way the food is prepared once again reminds us of the importance of food safety.