On the occasion of World Food Safety Day, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr Mansukh Mandaviya released FSSAI’s 4th State Food Safety Index (SFSI) to measure the performance of States across five parameters of food safety.
- World Food Safety Day is observed every year on 7 June.
» The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) compiled the 4th State Food Safety Index for the fiscal 2021-22.
SFSI 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 will help in providing safe and nutritious food to our citizens.
The Union Health Minister felicitated the winning State/UTs based on the ranking for the year 2021-22 for their impressive performance across parameters.
Performance of States and Union Territories in 4th State Food Safety Index:
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.
EatSmart Cities Challenge:
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 Health Minister also felicitated 11 winning smart cities of the EatSmart Cities Challenge.
- EatSmart Cities Challenge was launched by FSSAI last year in association with the Smart Cities Mission under the aegis of Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
He also felicitated winners of the Eat Right Research Challenge for Cities and Districts and Eat Right Research Awards and Grants.
Launch of various innovative initiatives:
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 logo for AyurvedaAahar which contains the initials of Ayurveda and Ahara with 5 leaves symbolising five elements of nature.
- This logo would be beneficial in creating a unique identity, easy identification and proven benefits to improve health and wellbeing.
Further, the Union Health Minister also released various ebooks that advocate and capture innovative recipes about oil free cooking and sugarless desserts.
He also launched various resource books including Khadyanjali, a quarterly magazine published by the Rajbhasha Division of FSSAI; Guidance Document on Food Borne Disease Outbreak Investigation and Microbiological Process Control, Sampling and Testing of Fish and Fishery Products etc.