AURANGABAD: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) wants all households in the state to be food literate by the month of May next year. So it is going to start a Safe Food Literacy Campaign from next month.
Food literacy is the attitude towards and knowledge about food and involves opting for healthier diet and nutrition choices leading to improved health.
FDA commissioner Purushottam Bhapkar told TOI, "A number of studies evidence a strong correlation between nutritional knowledge and healthy eating or dietary quality. As part of the campaign to start from next month, we will have public awareness and education programmes. FDA plans to spread food literacy in all sections of society by May 1, 2015 (Maharashtra Day)."
The commissioner added that the literacy campaign could have a positive effect on the consumption habits of children and adolescents. "Children tend to prefer food that tastes good, and the campaign, while helping increasing their nutritional knowledge, would also lead them to make healthier food choices. Involving all the members of a household in food preparation would also help children and youngsters become food literate," he said.
The official elaborated further, "To have safe and wholesome food is the right of all the citizens of the country. As per Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, Rules 2011, it is our responsibility to make such food available. Moreover, it is also the responsibility of the Food Business Operators (FBO) to comply with these rules."
He said, "As a subset of health literacy, food literacy affects health outcomes in several ways. Food literacy leads to food safety as it leads to food material being stored and handled properly. Knowledge and use of food label information can help improve diets, thereby helping reduce health risks. Similarly, better cooking and dietary skills in a household can lead to better health outcomes. Finally, dietary knowledge is a factor in food and meal choices that will contribute to overall health positively."
FDA joint commissioner (Food), Aurangabad division, Chandrashekhar Salunke said, "The campaign's focus would be on food safety right from the manufacturer to the consumer level. Everyone will be involved, right from the labourers handling food to transporters to end-users."
"The campaign is going to be launched in all divisions of the state - Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Nashik, Aurangabad and Konkan. The programmes have already been planned," said the official.
FDA deputy joint commissioner (Food), Aurangabad division M D Shah said, "The campaign, in its first stage, will begin for government officials. Study material would be distributed among the officials and presentations and demonstrations of FBOs in the catering and hotel business will be conducted in Aurangabad division at the taluka level."
The official added, "Later, the campaign will include the sensitizing of around 10,000 students in each district through their schools. Nutrition education is important for children as it influences their eating habits and health. School meal programmes are an excellent means of providing students with nutritious food as well as educating them about a healthy diet. Public-private partnerships leverage a variety of approaches -including experiential learning, point of purchase nutrition logos and labelling, and menu labeling - to increase and enhance household food literacy skills," said Shah.
"Considering the importance of households in the endeavour, the campaign involves the participation of women in a hygienic kitchen campaign for homemakers. Educational material that will contribute positively to overall health would be distributed at the event. Above all, the campaign will also include songs, text messages, street plays, hoardings, posters, a short film and documentary, TV talk show and channel promos," said Shah.
He added, "The participation of many stakeholders - the government, businesses and households as well as the health and education sectors - would be encouraged as they have roles to play. Programmes that use the multi-stakeholder approach can create a bigger impact."
Graphics: 100 words
"FDA aims at improve food literacy and recommends strategies for the governments, industry, the health and education sectors, civil society, and households to further enhance safe food literacy through a campaign which would be implemented through-out the state from next month onwards." - FDA commissioner Purushottam Bhapkar
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** Project plan for 6 divisions of state - Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Nashik, Aurangabad and Konkan.
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At a glance: 1st stage campaign
Name of campaign--Place--Participants
Food Safety Students Literacy Campaign Renowned Schools of each District - 10,000 Students.
Consumer Literacy Campaign -At every district's consumer forum - Minimum 500 consumers
Literacy Campaign for Govt officials - At each district place - Minimum 1000 officials
Retails and Street Food Vendors - At each district place - Minimum 1000 Retails FBO's
Hygienic Kitchen campaign for homemakers -Active women group of each district - Minimum 500 women
Campaign for FBO's engaged in Milk and Milk Products - At each district place - Minimum 1000 such FBOs.
Campaign for FBO's engaged in Meat and Meat Product - At each district place - Minimum 1000 such FBOs
Campaign for FBO's engaged in catering and hotel - At each district place - Minimum 1000 such FBOs.
Food literacy is the attitude towards and knowledge about food and involves opting for healthier diet and nutrition choices leading to improved health.
FDA commissioner Purushottam Bhapkar told TOI, "A number of studies evidence a strong correlation between nutritional knowledge and healthy eating or dietary quality. As part of the campaign to start from next month, we will have public awareness and education programmes. FDA plans to spread food literacy in all sections of society by May 1, 2015 (Maharashtra Day)."
The commissioner added that the literacy campaign could have a positive effect on the consumption habits of children and adolescents. "Children tend to prefer food that tastes good, and the campaign, while helping increasing their nutritional knowledge, would also lead them to make healthier food choices. Involving all the members of a household in food preparation would also help children and youngsters become food literate," he said.
The official elaborated further, "To have safe and wholesome food is the right of all the citizens of the country. As per Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, Rules 2011, it is our responsibility to make such food available. Moreover, it is also the responsibility of the Food Business Operators (FBO) to comply with these rules."
He said, "As a subset of health literacy, food literacy affects health outcomes in several ways. Food literacy leads to food safety as it leads to food material being stored and handled properly. Knowledge and use of food label information can help improve diets, thereby helping reduce health risks. Similarly, better cooking and dietary skills in a household can lead to better health outcomes. Finally, dietary knowledge is a factor in food and meal choices that will contribute to overall health positively."
FDA joint commissioner (Food), Aurangabad division, Chandrashekhar Salunke said, "The campaign's focus would be on food safety right from the manufacturer to the consumer level. Everyone will be involved, right from the labourers handling food to transporters to end-users."
"The campaign is going to be launched in all divisions of the state - Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Nashik, Aurangabad and Konkan. The programmes have already been planned," said the official.
FDA deputy joint commissioner (Food), Aurangabad division M D Shah said, "The campaign, in its first stage, will begin for government officials. Study material would be distributed among the officials and presentations and demonstrations of FBOs in the catering and hotel business will be conducted in Aurangabad division at the taluka level."
The official added, "Later, the campaign will include the sensitizing of around 10,000 students in each district through their schools. Nutrition education is important for children as it influences their eating habits and health. School meal programmes are an excellent means of providing students with nutritious food as well as educating them about a healthy diet. Public-private partnerships leverage a variety of approaches -including experiential learning, point of purchase nutrition logos and labelling, and menu labeling - to increase and enhance household food literacy skills," said Shah.
"Considering the importance of households in the endeavour, the campaign involves the participation of women in a hygienic kitchen campaign for homemakers. Educational material that will contribute positively to overall health would be distributed at the event. Above all, the campaign will also include songs, text messages, street plays, hoardings, posters, a short film and documentary, TV talk show and channel promos," said Shah.
He added, "The participation of many stakeholders - the government, businesses and households as well as the health and education sectors - would be encouraged as they have roles to play. Programmes that use the multi-stakeholder approach can create a bigger impact."
Graphics: 100 words
"FDA aims at improve food literacy and recommends strategies for the governments, industry, the health and education sectors, civil society, and households to further enhance safe food literacy through a campaign which would be implemented through-out the state from next month onwards." - FDA commissioner Purushottam Bhapkar
-----------------
** Project plan for 6 divisions of state - Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Nashik, Aurangabad and Konkan.
-------------
At a glance: 1st stage campaign
Name of campaign--Place--Participants
Food Safety Students Literacy Campaign Renowned Schools of each District - 10,000 Students.
Consumer Literacy Campaign -At every district's consumer forum - Minimum 500 consumers
Literacy Campaign for Govt officials - At each district place - Minimum 1000 officials
Retails and Street Food Vendors - At each district place - Minimum 1000 Retails FBO's
Hygienic Kitchen campaign for homemakers -Active women group of each district - Minimum 500 women
Campaign for FBO's engaged in Milk and Milk Products - At each district place - Minimum 1000 such FBOs.
Campaign for FBO's engaged in Meat and Meat Product - At each district place - Minimum 1000 such FBOs
Campaign for FBO's engaged in catering and hotel - At each district place - Minimum 1000 such FBOs.
Good plan to create awareness
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