INDIA – The Food Safety and Drug Administration officials in Lucknow are gearing up to launch a campaign to maintain high standards of food safety and hygiene in the state capital, in a bid to secure the first position in the Eat Right Challenge -2 programme.
For this, authorities will take stern action against food outlets, restaurants and hotels that sell adulterated stuff while also conducting impromptu raids to monitor quality of food.
The Eat Right India movement is an initiative of the Government of India and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to transform the country’s food system in order to ensure safe, healthy and sustainable food for all Indians.
It is based on three key themes, ‘if it’s not safe, it’s not food’ (safe food), ‘food should not only serve the palate but is also meant for body and mind’ (healthy diets) and ‘food has to be good both for people and the planet’ (sustainable diets).
The movement is a competition among districts and cities aimed at recognizing their efforts in adopting and scaling up various initiatives under Eat Right India. Further, it is meant to motivate states to improve performance and encourage others to join.
In this year’s Eat Right Challenge-1, Lucknow secured fifth position in the country after Bhubaneshwar which was ranked fourth. Varanasi and Indore bagged first rank in the Pan-India Eat Right Challenge while Bhopal came second and Vadodara and Ujjain shared the third spot.
“Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has initiated the Eat Right India movement. It is based on three key themes – the first is if it’s not safe, it’s not food’ (safe food), the second –food should not only serve the palate but is also meant for body and mind (healthy diets) and the third theme is –food has to be good both for people and the planet’ (sustainable diets),” said Dr SP Singh, Food safety commissioner (II).
FSDA inspectors have been asked to increase surveillance and collect samples of food items. They will also issue licenses to stalls in order to regulate the sale of food items.
Between April 1 and June 30, the FSSDA has issued 1,474 licenses, while 7,610 food stalls were registered. The target is to now issue 1,200 licenses and do 3,000 registrations of food stalls by September 30.
Food outlets, beverage shops and traders would also be educated about the Eat Right Challenge and be made aware on how to maintain cleanliness at their establishments and how to get licenses issued and get registrations done on time.
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