FSSAI’s 45th Central Advisory Committee Meeting
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) held its 45th Central Advisory Committee (CAC) meeting in New Delhi. The meeting focused on enhancing food safety at popular tourist destinations as the peak tourist season approaches from November to March.
Key Initiatives
States and Union Territories were encouraged to increase surveillance using Food Safety on Wheels Mobile Labs at tourist spots. G Kamala Vardhana Rao, CEO of FSSAI, urged Food Commissioners to monitor warehouses and facilities used by e-commerce platforms and to issue Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for these warehouses and delivery personnel.
Training and Awareness
The committee emphasized training Food Business Operators (FBOs) under the Food Safety Training and Certification (FoSTaC) program. The goal is to train 25 lakh food handlers by March 2026, including those in educational institutions. An integrated food safety approach was also highlighted, encouraging collaboration among ministries and stakeholders.
Consumer Engagement
As part of the “Eat Right India movement,” the meeting stressed the importance of engaging consumers in promoting healthier eating habits. States were advised to increase food safety awareness through fairs, walkathons, and street plays.
Participation
Over 60 officials, including Commissioners of Food Safety, state representatives, senior FSSAI officials, and members from various sectors, participated in the meeting.
Doubts Revealed
FSSAI -: FSSAI stands for the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. It is an organization that makes sure the food we eat is safe and healthy.
Tourist Spots -: Tourist spots are places that many people visit for fun and sightseeing, like the Taj Mahal or beaches in Goa.
Peak Season -: Peak season is the time of year when the most people visit tourist spots, usually because of holidays or good weather.
Central Advisory Committee -: The Central Advisory Committee is a group of people who help FSSAI make decisions about food safety in India.
Union Territories -: Union Territories are regions in India that are governed directly by the Central Government, like Delhi and Chandigarh.
Food Safety on Wheels Mobile Labs -: These are special vans that travel around to test food and make sure it is safe to eat.
SOPs -: SOPs stand for Standard Operating Procedures. They are detailed instructions on how to do a task correctly and safely.
E-commerce Warehouses -: E-commerce warehouses are big buildings where online shopping companies store their products before they are sent to customers.
Eat Right India movement -: The Eat Right India movement is a campaign to encourage people in India to eat healthy and nutritious food.