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Recently the Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare released the 3rd State Food Safety Index (SFSI) which has been developed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). In an effort to enhance the food safety system across India, 19 Mobile Food Testing Vans, known as Food Safety on Wheels, have also been launched.
About the State Food Safety Index
The SFSI is a tool designed to gauge the performance of Indian states in terms of food safety. It measures five key parameters – Human Resources and Institutional Data, Compliance, Food Testing – Infrastructure and Surveillance, Training & Capacity Building, and Consumer Empowerment. This dynamic benchmarking model provides an objective means of assessing food safety on a quantitative and qualitative basis across all states and Union Territories (UTs).
The inaugural State Food Safety Index for 2018-19 was unveiled on World Food Safety Day, 7th June 2019.
State Rankings in Food Safety
As per the latest SFSI, Gujarat holds the top spot among larger states, with Kerala and Tamil Nadu following close behind. In the category of smaller states, Goa leads the way, succeeded by Meghalaya and Manipur. Among UTs, Jammu & Kashmir, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and New Delhi were identified as the leading regions in terms of food safety.
The Importance of Food Safety
Access to a sufficient quantity of safe food is vital for healthy living. Foodborne illnesses, typically caused by viruses, bacteria, parasites or toxic chemicals contaminating food and water, are often invisible to the naked eye. Approximately 420,000 people globally succumb each year to diseases caused by consuming contaminated food. Alarmingly, children under five years of age account for 40% of the foodborne disease burden, resulting in 125,000 fatalities annually.
Food safety plays a critical role in ensuring the quality of food at all stages along the supply chain. The food production sector is responsible for nearly 30% of global greenhouse-gas emissions, thus contributing significantly to global warming.
Related Indian and Global Initiatives
In India, the government and FSSAI have launched the Eat Right India Movement, which aims to transform the nation’s food system to provide safe, healthy and sustainable food. This initiative aligns with the National Health Policy 2017 focusing on preventive and promotive healthcare, alongside flagship programs such as Ayushman Bharat, POSHAN Abhiyaan, Anemia Mukt Bharat and Swachh Bharat Mission.
FSSAI also awards Eat Right Station Certification to railway stations adhering to standards set by the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Additional initiatives include the Eat Right Research Awards and Grants, a PAN-India survey to identify trans fatty acid content in food, and a pledge signed by 24 food businesses to become “Plastic Waste Neutral”.
On a global scale, the joint intergovernmental body of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO), known as the Codex Alimentarius Commission, has adopted a collection of standards, guidelines, and codes of practice referred to as the “Food Code”. Currently, the commission has 189 members, including India.
Source: PIB
