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23rd September 2024 (9 Topics)

Food Safety in India

Context

The recent controversy surrounding adulterated ghee in Tirupati's laddus has shone a spotlight on a broader issue: the oversight of food safety in India.

Food safety framework in India

  • The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), established in 2006, is the central body responsible for ensuring food safety and regulating the food industry.
  • The FSSAI sets science-based standards for food production, storage, distribution, and sale.
  • It also licenses food businesses and conducts inspections to ensure compliance.
  • Key Regulations and Standards
    • Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006: This act consolidates various laws related to food safety standardsand establishes the FSSAI. It provides a single reference point for all matters related to food safety and standards, thereby ensuring a more streamlined regulatory approach.
      • The Act covers all food businesses
    • Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011: These regulations mandate that all food businesses, from small vendors to large manufacturers, obtain a license or register with the FSSAI. This helps in maintaining a database of food business operators and ensures that they comply with food safety standards.

Challenges of Food Safety in India

  • Low Awareness: Many people, especially outside urban areas, are unaware of food hygiene practices. Safe food is often seen as a luxury rather than a necessity.
  • Limited Infrastructure: Food manufacturing and processing facilities often lack resources for maintaining proper hygiene.
  • Food Adulteration: There has been a significant increase in food adulteration cases, rising from 15% in 2012 to 28% in 2019. Many manufacturers evade mandatory product registration, complicating detection.
  • Poor Traceability: Companies struggle to trace ingredients, particularly raw agricultural products.
  • Price Sensitivity: Many food manufacturers focus on keeping costs low to remain affordable.

Food Safety in India

  • World Food Safety Day is celebrated annually on June 7 to raise awareness about food safety and encourage actions to prevent foodborne illnesses.
  • Safe and Nutritious Food (SNF) initiative takes a citizen centric approach to transformative social and behavioural change. 
  • Eat Right India is nationwide initiative promoting safe and healthy eating habits among consumers.
  • Eat Right Station is designed to ensure that railway stations provide safe and nutritious food options for travelers.
  • Eat Right Mela is a public event that showcases safe and healthy food choices, often featuring workshops and demonstrations.
  • State Food Safety Index (SFSI) serves as a benchmarking framework, both quantitative and qualitative, to assess the performance of States and Union Territories across various food safety parameters.
  • Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Jammu & Kashmir have emerged as the top three performers in the State Food Safety Index (SFSI) 2024.
  • RUCO (Repurpose Used Cooking Oil) is an initiative to promote the safe disposal and repurposing of used cooking oil, reducing health risks and environmental impact.
  • Food Safety Mitra is a program to support food businesses by providing guidance on food safety regulations and best practices.
  • 100 Food Streets is an initiative to promote hygiene and safety in street food vending, enhancing the quality of food sold in popular areas.
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