| World Food Safety Day celebrated with zest, zeal | | |  Early Times Report
JAMMU, June 7: World Food Safety Day 2024 was celebrated with great enthusiasm and commitment by the Commissionerate of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) J&K in Jammu. Under the leadership of Sh. Hasmat Ali Yatoo, IAS, Commissioner of Food Safety, Food and Drug Administration Jammu and Kashmir, the event took place at Asia Hotel Jammu. It was graced by the presence of the Joint Commissioner Food Safety J&K, Deputy Commissioner Food Safety Jammu Division, Assistant Commissioner Food Safety Jammu, and a team of dedicated officials.
The event saw active participation from various Chambers and Trade Associations of Jammu, including the Hotel Associations, Trade Associations for milk, sweets (Halwe), restaurants, grocery stores (Kiryana), and Warehouse Associations of Jammu. Mr. Arun Gupta, President of the Chamber & Trade Association Jammu, addressed the participants, appreciating the department's efforts. The President of the Hotel Associations Jammu also highlighted the significance of the day and commended the department for its dedication.
Key speakers from the department delivered PowerPoint presentations explaining the meaning and importance of food safety. They emphasized the theme of this year's World Food Safety Day, "Food Safety: Prepare for the Unexpected." The event featured discussions on various initiatives such as Hygiene Ratings, BHOG (Blissful Hygienic Offering to God), RUCO (Repurpose Used Cooking Oil), sanitation practices, food safety on wheels, mobile food testing vans (MFTV), surveillance testing, awareness programs, training sessions, Eat Right Campus, Eat Right Schools, outreach programs, and media publicity.
A mega-level program was organized to impart awareness about food fortification, particularly in mid-day meals. The speakers elaborated on food safety rules and regulations, the Eat Right Challenge, and the department's significant achievements in ranking first across the nation for three consecutive times in the Eat Right India movement.
Commissioner Sh. Hasmat Ali Yatoo, in his closing remarks, stressed that one in ten people are affected by foodborne illnesses. He highlighted that safer food is a marker of good health, while unsafe food can lead to numerous diseases and poor health conditions due to micronutrient and macronutrient deficiencies. He assured that the department is always at the forefront to combat any challenges that may arise in ensuring food safety compliance.
During the event, four key steps to food safety were emphasized: preventing food poisoning, maintaining hygiene of personal and premises, avoiding contamination and cross-contamination, cooking food at the right temperature, and proper food storage. The importance of food safety was projected, including 25 steps to make the diet healthier, along with key issues related to packaging and labeling. Pamphlets and brochures were distributed to more than 200 participants. Programs like Poshan Abhiyaan and Anaemia Mukt Bharat were discussed with affirmations for their implementation.
The event concluded with a wide media publicity campaign, promoting slogans like "Awo Kam Karein Thora Tail, Chini aur Namak" of Eat Right India, encouraging a healthier lifestyle. Participants were educated about the three categories of food items-high risk, low risk, and medium risk-and the guidelines associated with each.
World Food Safety Day 2024 was celebrated with enthusiasm, commitment, and a vision to overcome hurdles in the interest of the nation. |
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