Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya released the FSSAI’s 5th State Food Safety Index (SFSI) on World Food Safety Day i.e. on 07 June 2023.
- The 5th State Food Safety Index evaluates the performance of states and union territories across six different aspects of food safety.
- The World Food Safety Day celebration was organized by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on June 7, 2023 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
About SFSI:
- The State Food Safety Index (SFSI) is an annual assessment released by FSSAI. It serves as a tool to propel States and Union Territories (UTs) to enhance their performance and establish robust food safety systems within their jurisdictions.
- Launched in 2018-19, the SFSI aims to foster healthy competition and catalyze positive change in the food safety ecosystem throughout the country, ultimately ensuring the provision of safe and wholesome food to all residents.
Performance of States and Union Territories in the 5th State Food Safety Index:
Recognizing the achievements of various states and union territories, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya felicitated the winners based on their rankings for the year 2022-23.
» Among the larger states, Kerala secured the top ranking, followed by Punjab and Tamil Nadu,
» Among the smaller states, Goa emerged as the leader, followed Manipur and Sikkim.
» Additionally, Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi and Chandigarh secured the first, second, and third ranks respectively among the union territories.
- Mansukh Mandaviya also commended states that demonstrated significant improvement in their State Food Safety Index scores.
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Winners of the Eat Right Challenge for Districts – Phase II:
» At the event, the Union Health Minister honored the winners of the Eat Right Challenge for Districts – Phase II.
- These districts showcased outstanding efforts in implementing plans to improve the food environment and raise awareness about food safety.
- Remarkably, most of the districts with exceptional results were located in Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra.
- Out of the 260 participating districts, 31 successfully achieved a score of 75% or higher.
Various innovative initiatives launched during release of 5th State Food Safety Index
» Dr. Mandaviya also unveiled several innovative initiatives by FSSAI, including the Rapid Food Testing Kit (RAFT) portal.
About RAFT Portal:
» The RAFT portal aims to streamline the operations of the RAFT Scheme, ensuring transparency and accountability.
- Applicants can now conveniently apply for approval online, and all steps, from application processing to certificate issuance and renewal, can be carried out electronically.
- This digitalization promotes a paperless operation of the RAFT scheme, which was launched in 2019 to encourage the adoption of advanced technologies for food testing, screening, and surveillance purposes.
As part of the event, the Union Health Minister released three manuals designed to enhance food safety practices nationwide.
- These manuals include the Manual of Methods of Analysis of Foods – Fish & Fish Products, Manual of Methods of Analysis of Foods – Cereal and Cereal Products – 2nd edition, and Manual of Methods of Analysis of Foods – Beverages: Tea, Coffee & Chicory.
- These manuals are tailored to align with the latest technological advancements in food analysis, ensuring the safety and quality of food products.
- Stakeholders in the food industry, including food businesses, regulatory officials, and consumers, will benefit from the valuable guidance provided in these manuals.