Why in news?

The FSSAI has released the Fourth State Food Safety Index recently.

What is State Food Safety Index?

• FSSAI has developed State Food Safety Index to measure the performance of states on various parameters of Food Safety.
• It was first started in 2018-19 with the aim of creating a competitive and positive change in India's food safety ecosystem.
• This index is based on performance of State/ UT on five significant parameters
  • Human Resources and Institutional Data
  • Compliance
  • Food Testing – Infrastructure and Surveillance
  • Training & Capacity Building
  • Consumer Empowerment

What about the recent index?

• In the 4^th index, Tamil Nadu topped the list among larger states, followed by Gujarat and Maharashtra.
• Among smaller states, Goa was the winner, followed by Manipur and Sikkim.
• Jammu and Kashmir emerged top among Union Territories, followed by Delhi and Chandigarh.

How can the States’ index be improved?

• Support of the Centre- States need the support of the Central government in developing food laboratory infrastructure and enhancing manpower.
• Assistance- Liberal assistance should be provided to the States and Union Territories as far as laboratory infrastructure and improvement of manpower are concerned.
• Role of private sector- The private sector should come forward in a big way to have staff trained at their cost to improve the productivity.
• Use of ICT- The participation of information technology majors with the help of non-governmental organisations can be utilised in getting surplus food distributed to the needy.

What are some of the important initiatives for food safety in India?

• Eat Right India Movement- to transform the country’s food system in order to ensure safe, healthy and sustainable food for all Indians.
• Eat Right Station Certification- awarded by FSSAI to railway stations that set benchmarks (as per the FSS Act, 2006) in providing safe and wholesome food to passengers.
• The Eat Right Research Awards and Grants- for high quality research in the area of food safety and nutrition in India.
• PAN-India survey- for identifying the presence of industrially produced trans fatty acid content in the selected foods has been released.

References

1. https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/safe-foods-the-hindu-editorial-on-the-need-to-develop-food-laboratory-infrastructure-in-states/article65507222.ece
2. https://indianexpress.com/article/india/state-food-safety-list-tn-tops-big-states-goa-smaller-ones-7957844/
3. https://www.fssai.gov.in/cms/foodsafetyindex.php
4. https://indianexpress.com/article/upsc-current-affairs/upsc-essentials/upsc-essentials-one-word-a-day-food-safety-part-2-7958378/

Quick facts

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)

• It is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

• It is a statutory body established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
• Its headquarter is in Delhi.
• The main role of the authority is to regulate and monitor, manufacture, processing, distribution, sale and import of food while ensuring safe and wholesome food to the consumers.
• FSSAI License is responsible for protecting and promoting public health through the regulation and supervision of food safety.