Sep 4, 2019
FSSAI to give hygiene rating Dehradun's food outlets
Dehradun: Soon you will get to know the hygiene and cleanliness standards of your favourite city restaurant as the country's top food safety regulator Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is set to launch a drive to rate the city-based restaurants on the basis of hygiene standards from Wednesday.
Speaking to TOI, district food safety officer (Food and Drug Administration) Ganesh Kandwal said, “Under this drive, city restaurants, cafes, canteen and other food joints, will be awarded 1 to 5 smileys. More smileys will mean better hygiene standards of the eatery.”
The official added that displaying the hygiene rating in the restaurant will be mandated so that the consumers are aware of eatery’s cleanliness standards. “The move aims to help consumers make informed choices. This will also encourage the owners to improve their hygiene standards and thus reduce the chances of food-borne ailments,” Kandwal added.
The food department will conduct random inspections in food outlets and hotels to check their hygiene standards and give rating and certificate to the place. “Food outlets will be re-rated once they improve hygiene standards. Also, if we receive a complaint regarding poor hygiene at any food joint, we can conduct random inspections to reassess the ratings of that food business operator,” Kandwal explained.
On Tuesday, the food safety body also conducted a workshop on Food Safety Training and Certification Program (FOSTAC) hygiene in the city. “During the workshop, the food outlet owners were informed that it is a mandatory requirement for restaurants and hotels (with staff up to 25 people) to have at least one food safety supervisor. The 40 participants of the workshop were also provided with the basic knowledge of hygiene and sanitary requirements in the premises,” Ashish Bhargava, training partner with FSSAI, told TOI.
The participants were also told about issues like waste management, pest control, among others. Notably, FOSTAC will be a mandatory certification under Sec 16(3)(H) of FSSA, 2006.
Health Minister stresses on right and healthy nutrition
Dr Harsh Vardhan addresses 72nd Session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia
Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare recently inaugurated the ‘72nd Session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia' in New Delhi.
Stressing on the need for right and healthy nutrition, Dr Harsh Vardhan stated that the government is observing the entire month of September as “Poshan Maah” (Nutrition Month) to sensitize the public towards healthy eating, address the twin issues of malnutrition/undernutrition and problem of obesity in some sections of the population, and intensifying the campaign towards a ‘Malnutrition-Free India’.
Dr Harsh Vardhan further said that unsafe food and poor diet create a vicious cycle of disease and malnutrition, particularly affecting infants, young children, elderly and sick. “India is passing through an epidemiological shift from communicable to non-communicable diseases, and the burden of diet-related diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity is rising rapidly. I am happy to share with you that the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has adopted a “food systems approach” to ensure our citizens have access to safe and healthy food,” he elaborated. He further said that this approach judiciously combines the regulatory and capacity building measures with consumer empowerment initiatives. Citizens are being sensitized through a people’s movement called ‘Eat Right India’. “It’s tagline, Sahi Bhojan. Behtar Jeevan’ – ‘Right diet leads to better quality life’ depicts India’s commitment to preventive and promotive healthcare as an important pillar of our health policy, he mentioned.
“I must take this opportunity to thank our Youth Icon, the cricket superstar Virat Kohli, who has helped us to launch a massive campaign. “Eat Right, Stay Fit, Tabhi India Super Fit”, Dr Harsh Vardhan said. He informed that three days ago, Hon’ble Prime Minister launched the 'Fit India' Movement' coinciding with the National Sports day celebrations. This campaign aims at encouraging people to include physical activity and sports as a routine in their everyday life. This, along with Eat Right India campaign, will help us to fight lifestyle diseases like hypertension, obesity and diabetes effectively, he said.
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