Uttarakhand: “Food Safety Dialogue” program organized under the aegis of Food Safety and Drug Administration (FDA) and PRSI
The program organized at the hotel on Subhash Road was inaugurated by Additional Commissioner of Food Safety and Drug Administration (FDA) Tajbar Singh Jaggi and other guests by lighting the lamp. On this occasion, the Additional Commissioner said that balanced and safe diet is the basis of staying healthy. For which the department is making full efforts. By running special campaigns on Chardham Yatra routes and tourist centers, those selling adulterated food items are being curbed. In the last five months itself, from January 2024 to May 2024, 1763 samples have been taken. Along with departmental action, cases have been registered against those found guilty in the investigation. For any kind of problem or complaint, information should be given on the departmental toll free number 180018004246. To curb food adulteration in the state, the shortage of human resources such as food safety officers will be removed soon. For this, a requisition has been sent to the Public Service Commission for the selection of 25 food safety officers. The process of posting food safety officers on deputation till selection from Public Service Commission is in progress. The enforcement/surveillance proceedings of the state are being expedited. Surveillance samples are being tested through 03 mobile food analysis laboratories for training and quick investigation to make food consumers aware of adulteration. Training programmes are being organised to make food businessmen aware of food rules and hygiene standards. 2000 street vendors have been trained in various districts of the state. To help in detecting adulteration related crimes and catching the culprit, the state is soon trying to determine the law and fund under the rules of the Food Safety Act. He informed that the Food Safety and Drug Administration will soon take up surveillance proceedings, in which fruits (mango, banana etc.), spices, milk and edible oil are prominent. He said that risk based inspections of the existing food manufacturing units in the state will be done. Milk products, edible oil, spices manufacturing units will be inspected from time to time and punitive action will be taken for violation of rules.
Dr Santosh from the Community Medicine Department of AIIMS Rishikesh, while sharing his views, said that we are going to enter the era of food pandemic. He said that if we prefer to take food like medicine, then it is possible that there will be no need to take medicine in the coming days. He said that whenever we talk about food, it is our responsibility and we have to decide what is right for our body. He said that we are giving more preference to taste instead of food and this taste is ruining us all. For good health, a good kitchen is necessary, not a gym. Without proper food, even a gym cannot do anything. He said that like drug addiction, junk food is also becoming an addiction in people, which everyone is ignoring right now. Due to this food addiction, today many people are falling prey to diseases like heart attack, hypertension, obesity. He said that you should think before eating, otherwise be prepared for the unexpected.
PRSI Dehradun Chapter President and Deputy Director in the Department of Information and Public Relations Ravi Bijarnia said that today it is very important to discuss about safe eating. There is also a need to spread more and more public awareness on this subject. He said that caution is necessary for proper eating and we also have to avoid the greed for too much taste. Social media platforms can be used to make people aware about food safety.
On this occasion, Deputy Commissioner of Food Safety and Drug Administration Department Ganesh Chandra Kandwal said that the department is going to publish a book called ‘Khada Suraksha Ki Kasauti’ very soon, in which all the information related to food safety will be available. During this, he also gave information about the food safety app created by FSSAI for complaining about adulteration, including the method to be done to check adulteration at home in easy ways. He told that any complaint can be registered on the Food Safety Connect app. Senior journalist Jyotsna said that special attention should be paid to women for public awareness of food safety. People are also becoming aware of healthy food, that is why millet is being talked about today.
Senior journalist Gajendra Negi also shared his views on food safety and said that we have to adopt a balanced life. Nutritious food is also tasty. Attention has to be paid to food habits. The structure of the Food Safety Department needs to be strengthened according to today’s circumstances. Along with filling the vacant posts of the department, the number of posts should be doubled.
Senior journalist Rakesh Khanduri said that the law related to food safety should be made more strict. Common people should know the simple ways by which adulteration in food items can be checked at home.
On this occasion, Sahni, Anil Marwah from Hotel Association, Anil Sati from PSRI, Suresh Bhatt, Sanjay Pandey, Akash, Vaibhav Goyal, Manoj Sati, Additional Drug Controller Dr Sudhir Kumar from FDA, Neeraj Kumar, Manish Sayana, PC Joshi, Sanjay Tiwari, Ramesh Singh, etc. were present.
