Roadside food vendors to be trained in hygiene, food safety

Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar seen launching Food Safety on Wheel (Mobile Food Testing Van) of Goa FDA at Altinho Panaji on Sunday in the presence of Health Minister Vishwajeet Rane, Director of FDA Jyoti Sardesai and others

PANAJI: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar launched the food safety on wheels (mobile food testing van) at Altinho on Sunday in the presence of Health Minister Vishwajeet Rane.

Addressing the media, Parrikar said that under the central government scheme, the first van has been given to Goa in order to educate roadside food vendors about food safety.

Parrikar said we eat food from roadside kiosks but many a times we do not know what the food contains and whether it is safe or contaminated. He said the mobile van will create awareness amongst the people who enjoy eating roadside food.

Parrikar said that sometimes the vendors add colour to tandoori items instead of using the masala which can be detrimental to the health of people eating such food. He said that the Food Safety on Wheels (mobile food testing van) will train and teach the vendors on the health aspects of selling food on the roadsides.

The FDA director Jyoti Sardessai, said that as part of the central government scheme for strengthening the food testing system in the country, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), a statutory authority under the Food Safety and Standards Act, Government of India, has rolled out the scheme of mobile food testing laboratories known as ‘Food safety on wheels’.

She said the van is fully equipped with analytical instruments such as milk analyzer, hot air oven, hot plate, mixer-grinder, digital weighing scale, digital multi parameter hand-held meter, digital refractometer etc. The van is also equipped with facilities such as power generator, air-conditioner, refrigerator, commercial gas cylinder, audio-visual PA system as well as a computer.

The facilities will be used to conduct tests of adulterated milk, water, edible oils and other items of food for daily consumption. She said that the van will also have a facility to draw on the spot samples and generate instant reports.

She said that the mobile unit will help the state FDA to enhance their outreach programmes and conduct surveillance activities even in the remote areas of state.

The mobile van costs Rs 41 lakh and will be manned by a trained driver, a chemist and an attendant besides a team of food safety officers. She said that the public can call on toll free number 1800122100 or telephone the FDA directorate during emergencies.