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Recently, the Bhopal Railway Station was awarded a 4-star ‘Eat Right Station’ certification. This recognition is given for providing high-quality, nutritious food to passengers. The 4-star rating highlights the station’s full compliance in ensuring safe, hygienic food is available to commuters.
‘Eat Right Station’ Certification: What It Is and Who’s Behind It
‘Eat Right Station’ certification is provided by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). This accolade is granted to railway stations that set superior standards in offering safe and nutritious food to passengers. Stations receive this certificate after an evaluation by an FSSAI-empanelled third-party audit agency. The ratings given range from 1 to 5, with this certification being part of the larger ‘Eat Right India’ movement.
Other railway stations that have earned this certification include Anand Vihar Terminal Railway Station (Delhi), Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (Mumbai), Mumbai Central Railway Station (Mumbai), Vadodara Railway Station, and Chandigarh Railway Station.
Exploring the ‘Eat Right Movement’
The ‘Eat Right Movement’ is spearheaded by FSSAI and aims to transform India’s food system to provide safe, healthy, and sustainable food for all residents. The campaign’s tagline, ‘Sahi Bhojan, Behtar Jeevan’, completes its mission. The initiative aligns with the National Health Policy 2017, focusing on preventive and promotive healthcare.
Programs like Ayushman Bharat, POSHAN Abhiyaan, Anaemia Mukt Bharat, and Swachh Bharat Mission are part of this ambitious movement. The Eat Right India project combines regulatory, capacity building, collaborative, and empowerment approaches to ensure food safety for the people and the environment.
Related Initiatives: Promoting Food Safety
FSSAI has developed the State Food Safety Index, which measures performance based on five food safety parameters. These include Human Resources and Institutional Data, Compliance, Food Testing – Infrastructure and Surveillance, Training & Capacity Building, and Consumer Empowerment.
The ‘Eat Right Awards’ were established by FSSAI to acknowledge the contribution of food companies and individuals in promoting safe and healthy food choices. Also, the ‘Eat Right Mela’, an outreach activity, nudges citizens towards healthier eating habits.
The Importance of Food Safety
Access to sufficient amounts of safe food is vital for sustaining life and promoting health. Foodborne illnesses, often caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites, or chemical substances, are usually infectious or toxic and are often invisible to the naked eye.
Every year, an estimated 420,000 people around the world die from consuming contaminated food. Children under the age of five carry 40% of the foodborne disease burden, with 125,000 deaths recorded annually. Assuring that food stays safe at every stage of the food chain – from production, harvest, processing, storage, distribution, all the way to preparation and consumption – is thus critical.
Understanding the Role of FSSAI
FSSAI is an independent entity under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. It was established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. This Act consolidated various acts and orders that previously handled food-related issues in different Ministries and Departments.
The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 replaced several Acts and Orders, including the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954, and Fruit Products Order, 1955. The Central Government appoints a non-executive Chairperson to head FSSAI. This body is accountable for setting science-based standards for food articles and regulating their production, storage, distribution, sale, and import, ensuring the availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption.
Previous UPSC Civil Services Examination Questions
In reference to pre-packaged items in India, one must know that it is mandatory for manufacturers to include certain information on the main label as per the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations, 2011. The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 replaced the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954. However, it’s not under the charge of Director General of Health Services.