By TIOL News Service

NEW DELHI, AUG 15, 2016: WHILE addressing the gathering at CII, the Union Consumer Affairs Minister, Mr Ram Vilas Paswan, said that Industry needs to spend certain percentage of their income in consumer awareness about food subsidy. He also suggested that consumers need to be empowered with equipment to check adulteration in food products like milk, water and commonly consumed products. He appreciated the engagement of multi stakeholders like Consumers, Street Food Vendors and Industry through this unique Surakshit Khadya Abhiyan and urged the Abhiyan partners to reach out to each and every individual to the extent possible.

Mr Paswan emphasised on the health and socio economic burden of foodborne illness globally and mentioned that raising awareness on food safety is an extremely important initiative especially for consumers, because safe food practices are key to preventing food borne illnesses.

Surakshit Khadya Abhiyan celebrated its first Anniversary on 13 August 2016 at New Delhi. Launched by Mr Paswan in July 2015, the Abhiyan has been reinforcing Industry's engagement on Awareness and Capacity Building on Food Safety with Students, Consumers, Primary producers and Food Business Operators in the Micro, Small and Medium Industries with the aim of Preventing Food borne illness in the Country and enhancing the livelihood of millions of Food Business operators in the micro-small and medium segment through safe food practices.

Addressing the event, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) CEO, Mr Pawan Agarwal, said that FSSAI has in the recent months introduced several standards, there was a need now for greater capacity building at the state level to ensure effective enforcement of these standards. "Food safety and nutrition should be integral part of people's daily life," he added. The Surakshit Khadya Abhiyan is helping reinforce the required attention to food safety practices with special focus on the student community, general consumers, food handlers and farmers. This initiative will make an important contribution towards strengthening safe food practices in high impact areas like schools, colleges, households, food business operations and street food vending and should be scaled up further said Mr Pawan Agarwal, CEO FSSAI.

Mr. S Dave, Chairman - Steering Committee Surakshit Khadya Abhiyan in his Opening Remarks mentioned that for students and general consumers, Interactive modes of learning and evaluation like Quiz & Skit Contests are aimed at creating a large pool of 'Safe Food' Champions, who in turn would cascade and disseminate Safe Food practices to their families, friends and society thereby creating a multiplier effect to prevent day to day foodborne illnesses. In the last one year 14500 citizens from all walks of life participated in Walkathons, 12 Food Safety Street Plays and Flash Mob Activities were enacted , 1000 progressives farmers were trained on Good Agricultural practices, about 140 schools participated in Painting competitions and Walkathons, 240 Student and Industry Volunteers were trained , Industry Visits were hosted for demonstrating Good Hygienic practices and consumers were reached out through Chat boxes, Articles in print media and Food Safety messages in Hoardings covering more than 20 cities, he added. Towards capacity building of the supply chain in the micro, small and medium food sector, a series of Workshops, Trainings and Best Practices Sharing Platforms are being further planned.