Context: Union Ministry for Health and Family Welfare unveiled the 5th State Food Safety Index (SFSI) on World Food Safety Day, highlighting India’s commitment to food safety and innovation.

• The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) also organised a session on June 7th, 2023, to celebrate World Food Safety Day.

World Food Safety Day

• World Food Safety Day is a global campaign that aims to draw attention and inspire action to help prevent, detect and manage foodborne risks.

• It is celebrated on 7 June every year since 2019, following a resolution by the United Nations General Assembly.

• The campaign is led by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with Member States and other relevant organisations.

• Theme for 2023: Food standards save lives.

Status of Food safety

• Approximately 600 million people, nearly 1 in 10 worldwide, fall ill each year due to consuming contaminated food, resulting in 420,000 deaths annually.

• Unsafe food leads to more than 200 diseases, including diarrhoea and cancers

• Children under five account for 40% of the foodborne disease burden

About the Report

• Developed by: FSSAI (a statutory body under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare with a mandate to ensure public health at large)

• 1st State Food Safety Index was released in 2019

• The index is a benchmarking model that provides an objective framework for evaluating food safety across all States/UTs.

• The parameters include Human Resources and Institutional Data, Compliance, Food Testing – Infrastructure and Surveillance, Training & Capacity Building and Consumer Empowerment.

Top-performing States and Union Territories

• Among larger states, Kerala secured the top ranking in the State Food Safety Index. 

• In the smaller states category, Goa emerged as the leader, demonstrating exemplary efforts in maintaining high food safety standards. 

• Additionally, Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi, and Chandigarh secured the first, second, and third ranks, respectively, among the union territories.

Training and Infrastructure Development

• To ensure food quality standards across the country, the Union Health Minister announced that the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) will train 25 lakh food business operators in the next three years. 

• This initiative aims to enhance the knowledge and skills of food industry professionals, ultimately promoting safer food practices.

• In addition, the Union Health Minister unveiled plans to set up 100 Food Streets across the country. These Food Streets will serve as benchmarks for food safety, hygiene, and nutrition, ensuring that consumers have access to quality food in a conducive environment.

Major Challenges Related to Food Safety in India

• Lack of Infrastructure and Resources: Insufficient infrastructure and resources pose significant challenges in ensuring food safety across the country.

• Limited laboratory facilities and testing capabilities result in inadequate monitoring and detection of contaminants. Inadequate storage and transportation facilities can lead to improper handling of food, increasing the risk of contamination.

• Contamination and Adulteration: Contamination of food with pathogens, chemicals, and toxins remains a major concern in India. Adulteration of food products with substandard ingredients or harmful substances is prevalent, compromising food safety and public health.

• Unregulated use of pesticides and chemical additives in agriculture and food production contribute to the contamination of food.

• Poor Hygiene and Sanitation Practices: Lack of proper handwashing, sanitation facilities, and clean water sources in food handling and processing establishments increase the risk of microbial contamination.

• Unhygienic conditions in food markets, street food vendors, and restaurants contribute to the spread of foodborne illnesses.

• Weak Regulatory Framework and Enforcement: Inconsistencies in standards and regulations across different states and regions create challenges in maintaining uniform food safety practices.

• Limited resources and manpower for inspection and enforcement result in inadequate monitoring and control of food safety standards.

• Rapid Urbanization and Changing Food Habits: Rapid urbanisation and changing food habits present challenges in ensuring food safety.

• Increased demand for processed and ready-to-eat foods, as well as street foods, requires robust monitoring and regulation to address safety concerns.

Initiatives taken by FSSAI

• Food Safety and Standards Regulations 2011(contains Licensing and Registration, Packaging and Labelling, and Advertising)

• Heart Attack Rewind (eliminating trans fat)

• FSSAI-CHIFSS (to promote collaborations between Industry, Scientific Community, and Academia for food safety);

• Eat Right India Movement

• Eat Right Awards

Other initiatives

• National Health Policy 2017

• POSHAN Abhiyaan

• Anemia Mukt Bharat

• Swachh Bharat Mission.

• Eat Right Station Certification (by Railway Ministry)

• Food Safety Magic Box (do-it-yourself food testing kit for school students)

• Codex Alimentarius, or “Food Code” is a collection of standards, guidelines and codes of practice adopted by the Codex Alimentarius Commission.