The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has recently released its Food Safety report for 2019-20.

Food safety has been in news this year quite frequent. Do make a note of following – Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA), Red Octagon, Eat Right Movement, Food Safety Mitra etc.

The Food Safety Index

• The index ranks states on five parameters of food safety: human resources and institutional data, compliance, food testing facility, training and capacity building besides consumer empowerment.
• This is the second index on food safety, which FSSAI released on the occasion of World Food Safety Day with the theme “Food Safety is everyone’s business”.
• It was dedicated to those in the supply chain who have ensured the uninterrupted availability of safe food during this COVID-19 pandemic.

Highlights of the report

• Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra have topped an index that ranked states ensuring food safety in 2019-20.
• Among the smaller states, Goa came first followed by Manipur and Meghalaya.
• Among UTs, Chandigarh, Delhi and the Andaman Islands secured top ranks.

Back2Basics: Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)

• The FSSAI is an autonomous body established under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India.
• It has been established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 which is a consolidating statute related to food safety and regulation in India.
• It is responsible for protecting and promoting public health through the regulation and supervision of food safety.
• It is headed by a non-executive Chairperson, appointed by the Central Government, either holding or has held the position of not below the rank of Secretary to the Government of India.

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