Inauguration of First Ever World Food Safety Day

The first ever World Food Safety was launched by the Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare on 7th June 2019 with the theme Food Safety, Everyone՚s Business. The celebratory programme was organised by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) .

The Prime Minister՚s new India movement includes health, social security and nutrition. As per the Union Minister of Health, health is absence of disease and infirmity & presence of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellness.

Aim is to raise awareness of the importance of food safety in order to protect consumer health. The 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York has adopted a resolution declaring 7 June World Food Safety Day every year.

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Background & Initiatives Overview

  • WHO, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) facilitated Member States effort to celebrate the World Food Safety Day this year and in coming years.
  • Access to sufficient amounts of safe and nutritious food is key to sustaining life and promoting good health.
  • Foodborne diseases impede socioeconomic development by straining health care systems and harming national economies, tourism and trade.
  • With an estimated 600 million cases of foodborne diseases annually - almost 1 in 10 people in the world fall ill after eating contaminated - food safety is an increasing threat to human health. Children under 5 years of age carry 40% of the foodborne disease burden with 125 000 deaths every year.
  • State Food Safety Index (SFSI) : To motivate states to work towards ensuring safe food for citizens, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has developed the first State Food Safety Index (SFSI) to measure the performance of States on five parameters of food safety.
  • The categories included:
    • Human Resources and Institutional Arrangements
    • Compliance
    • Food Testing- Infrastructure and Surveillance
    • Training and Capacity Building and
    • Consumer Empowerment.
  • A hand-held battery operated device Raman 1.0 performs rapid detection (in less than 1 minute) of economically driven adulteration in edible oils, fats and ghee.
  • The equipment is capable of testing more than 250 samples per battery charge. It can also collect and stores data on the cloud using a smart device.
  • To take food safely to schools FSSAI has launched Food safety magic Box
  • This do-it-yourself food testing kit comprises a manual and equipment to check for food adulterants, which can be used by the School Children in their classroom laboratories.
  • Eat Right Awards has been instituted by FSSAI to recognize the contribution of food companies and individuals thereby empowering citizens to choose safe and healthy food options. This would help them in improving their health and well-being.

Examrace Team at Aug 20, 2021