The Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare recently launched the Food Safety Mitra (FSM) scheme on World Food Day, focusing on the theme of ‘Healthy Diets for a Zero Hunger World’. The launch also included the ‘Eat Right Jacket’ and ‘Eat Right Jhola’ initiatives. All these efforts are targeted towards strengthening food safety administration and broadening the scope of the Eat Right India movement.
Food Safety Mitra (FSM) Scheme: Enhancing Compliance to Food Safety Laws
The Food Safety Mitra scheme is designed to assist small and medium-sized food businesses in adhering to food safety laws. The scheme provides a structured platform for facilitating the licensing and registration process, hygiene ratings, and training programs for these businesses. The FSMs, who will be trained and certified by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), will offer their services to food enterprises for a fee.
Job Creation Through the FSM Scheme
A valuable aspect of the Food Safety Mitra scheme is its potential to create new employment opportunities, especially for individuals with a background in food and nutrition. By encouraging the youth to undergo FSM training and certification, the scheme provides a lucrative avenue for income and professional growth.
Technological Integration with the Eat Right Jacket
The ‘Eat Right Jacket’, another unique initiative of the project, has a purposeful design that accommodates devices like tablets and smartphones. The jacket features a QR code and an RFID tag, used for identification and tracking purposes. This integration of technology aims to enhance efficiency, professionalism, and transparency in food safety administration, especially among field staff.
Encouraging Sustainable Shopping Habits with the Eat Right Jhola
The ‘Eat Right Jhola’ is a reusable cloth bag intended to replace plastic bags for shopping in various retail chains. This element of the initiative highlights the commitment of the FSSAI in promoting environmentally friendly shopping practices, alongside its primary goal of ensuring food safety.
| Initiative | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Food Safety Mitra (FSM) Scheme | Support small and medium-sized food businesses to comply with food safety laws |
| Eat Right Jacket | Incorporate technology for identification and tracking, enhancing efficiency and transparency in food safety administration |
| Eat Right Jhola | Encourage use of reusable cloth bags, promoting eco-friendly shopping practices |
Training Programs and Partnerships
To further ensure the effectiveness of these initiatives, FSSAI has partnered with the Domestic Workers Sector Skill Council under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. This collaboration is aimed at launching a comprehensive training course that teaches critical skills and knowledge required in the food industry.