In an effort to galvanise states/UTs to work towards ensuring safe food for citizens, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr Mansukh Mandaviya released Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)’s 4th State Food Safety Index (SFSI).
The SFSI is meant to measure the performance of states across five parameters of food safety. It was started from 2018-19 with the aim of creating a competitive and positive change in the food safety ecosystem in the country. The index helps in providing safe and nutritious food to citizens.
Speaking on the occasion of World Food Safety Day, the minister thanked all the stakeholders and said that such awards help in recognising the efforts taken by people. He emphasised that the nation and nutrition are deeply connected and for a Samruddh Bharat, we need a Swasthya Bharat and for a Swasthya Bharat, we need Swasthya Nagrik. He highlighted that in the last few years, healthcare has also seen a holistic development in the country.
Dr. Mandaviya further added that the Government is dedicated to ensure health security for every citizen in the country and for this it is focusing on primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare fronts with various initiatives like health and wellness centres and strengthening of district hospitals under the National Health Mission. He praised the crucial role FSSAI plays in ensuring healthy and nutritious food to the citizens of our country. “It is important to note that states have an important role in ensuring food safety and healthy food practices. It is the need of the hour that we come together to ensure a healthy nation”, he further noted.
The Union Health Minister felicitated the winning state/UTs based on the ranking for the year 2021- 22 for their impressive performance across parameters. This year, among the larger states, Tamil Nadu was the top ranking state, followed by Gujarat and Maharashtra. Among the smaller states, Goa stood first followed by Manipur and Sikkim.
Among UTs, Jammu & Kashmir, Delhi and Chandigarh secured first, second and third ranks. Dr. Mandaviya also felicitated states which showed significant improvement in the State Food Safety Index.
To motivate smart cities to develop and execute a plan that supports a healthy, safe and sustainable food environment through adoption of various Eat Right India initiatives, the minister also felicitated 11 winning smart cities of the EatSmart Cities Challenge, launched by FSSAI last year.
Dr Mandaviya further launched various innovative initiatives by FSSAI including the Eat Right Research Awards and Grants – Phase II. Eat Right Creativity Challenge – Phase III, a competition at the school level and a logo for AyurvedaAahar. He also released various e-books that advocate and capture innovative recipes about oil-free cooking and sugarless desserts.
Dr Mansukh Mandaviya Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare
Encouraging the participants and congratulating them on the occasion of World Food Safety Day, Rajesh Bhushan, Union Health Secretary, said that to prevent burden from food-borne diseases and to ensure food safety, a multifaceted and multistakeholder approach involving industries, Government machinery and regulators is required and awareness must be created at each level of the society.
Arun Singhal, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), FSSAI, said that food testing paradigm in the country is being improved in mission mode and Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) have been signed with states/UTs, to carefully see the food safety implementation in their respective areas.
Rajeev Kumar Jain, Executive Director and other dignitaries from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; senior officials from the state food safety departments and municipal corporations/smart city offices; professionals in food and nutrition, development agencies, food businesses and other stakeholders were also present at the event.
