To enhance the score in the national food safety rankings conducted by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the Delhi government will provide food safety training and certification (FOSTAC) to all food industry operators in the city.
Measures From State Food Safety Department
The state food safety department has taken several steps, including employing specialists to teach individuals in the food industry and enlisting private audit organizations to undertake thorough quality inspections around the national capital.
"Because these two tenders for hiring highly specialized trainers to impart FOSTAC and private audit businesses to verify on the quality of the food businesses have already been floated in the current fiscal year (2021-22), this will assist us to pitch Delhi's case better before the team of experts from FSSAI that conducts the surveys for the annual ranking," a senior food department official said.
In the SFSI rankings announced in September of last year, Delhi was rated third out of the eight UTs. Jammu & Kashmir was placed first in terms of food safety, followed by the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Lakshadweep had the lowest food safety ranking, receiving only 18 out of a possible 100 points, the lowest of any category.
The training organizations that the Delhi government intends to contract will be responsible for organizing and mobilizing FOSTAC training for all food industry operators/handlers across the 11 districts of Delhi.
Delhi Government To undertake Food Safety Assessment & Audit
In addition, the Delhi government will undertake a pan-Delhi food safety assessment and audit food businesses such as sweet shops, fast food restaurants, manufacturing facilities, dairy and meat products, nutraceuticals, and slaughterhouses.
If the audit teams discover a flaw, the outlet or manufacturing unit will be issued notice to enhance its product quality under the audit committees' recommendations. The state food safety department would apply a penalty if such units are discovered deficient even after serving the warning period, according to the tender document.
SFSI Rankings
The FSSAI has commenced planning for the fourth State Food Safety Index (SFSI). The yearly report is based on surveys done in states and union territories, with authorities stating that the goal is to establish a favorable competitive environment "to satisfy the objectives of the Food Safety and Standards Act" and encourage safe food to the general population. The first SFSI covers 2018-19 and was announced on the first-ever World Food Safety Day on June 7, 2019.
The states and UTs are graded based on five parameters: Human Resources and Institutional Data (20 percent weightage), Compliance (30 percent), Food Testing – Infrastructure and Surveillance (20 percent), Training and Capacity Building (10 percent), and Consumer Empowerment (20 percent).
