Dr Harsh Vardhan, union minister for Health and Family Welfare, today presided over an event to celebrate ‘World Food Day’. The event was organized by FSSAI. This year’s theme is grow, nourish, sustain. Together Ashwini Kumar Choubey, minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, joined the program through video conference.
Dr Harsh Vardhan stated that due to the world’s unprecedented challenges on account of the pandemic, there has been a renewed focus on food, nutrition, health, immunity, and sustainability.
He added, “FSSAI’s Eat Right India movement targets to promote safe and healthy food for everyone in an environmentally sustainable way. It is a part of its mandate to provide safe and wholesome food for all citizens. This will improve the food safety ecosystems and lift the hygiene and health of our citizens.”
A key focus this year is the elimination of trans fats from the food supply chain. A food toxin present in Partially Hydrogenated Vegetable Oils (PHVOs) (for example, vanaspati, shortening, and margarine), baked and fried foods, trans fat is a significant contributor to the rise in non-communicable diseases in India. Vardhan stated, “Trans fat is a modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Eliminating CVD risk factor is especially relevant during Covid-19 as people with CVD are predisposed to have serious conditions having an impact on mortality.” He reminded everyone of the government’s effort to make India trans-fat-free by 2022, a year ahead of WHO’s target, in synergy with the prime minister Narendra Modi vision of a New India on 75 years of the country’s independence.
Reiterating the game-changing potential of ‘Eat Right India’ and ‘Fit India Movement’, Vardhan said, “These two movements along with Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Jal Jeevan Mission and other efforts of the Environment Ministry will improve the health of Indians and heal the environment.”
Expressing his amazement at the marvels of the internet where curious citizens can look up things on the whole gamut of information available, he asked officials of FSSAI to promote awareness and consumer education leveraging technology so that informed citizens can make responsible choices.
He launched the Eat Right Creativity Challenge for schools, which is a poster and photography competition, and aims to promote healthy dietary habits. He also launched the ‘Eat Smart City’ (challenge) by FSSAI in partnership with Smart City Mission and The Food Foundation, UK, which will create an environment of right food practices and habits in India’s smart cities and can set an example for other cities to follow.
Vardhan launched several books or guidelines on occasion:
• The Food Safety and Hygiene Guidelines for Safe Reopening of School Canteen or Messdocument that highlights the best practices to be followed in the ‘New normal of Covid-19’ by all the stakeholders. It also includes tips on personal and environmental hygiene and common myths with their clarifications.
• The ‘Do you Eat Right?’ book will help translate the technical concepts on food and nutrition and Eat Right initiatives into a simple conventional style for the general public.
• The ‘Orange Book’ for Eat Right Campus that will serve as a resource guide to implement the mandatory food safety and hygiene requirements in campus canteens, ensure the provision of healthy and environmentally sustainable food, and build awareness among the individuals in workplaces, colleges, universities, institutions, and hospitals across the country.
• Daily Recommendations and Food Fortification- A handbook for States launched by FSSAI will provide answers to the prime concerns around food fortification to State government officials. It will further elaborate on the difference in the average consumption of micronutrients such as Vitamin A, Vitamin D, iron, folic acid, and Vitamin B12 in a regular diet compared with the fortified inclusion staples in everyday meals.
Rajesh Bhushan, the union health secretary, Arun Singhal, chief executive officer FSSAI, and other senior officials of the ministry of Health and Family Welfare and FSSAI were present at the event. State Food Safety Commissioners, regional directors and officers of FSSAI, Professionals of Scientific Panel of Oils and fats, Officials of International Public Health Organizations; WHO, World Bank, Vital Strategies, members of NePRoFaN- Network of Professionals of Food and Nutrition, Prominent food business Corporates, Industry Associations, Implementation partners, Development Partners for Food Fortification were also invited to attend the event through video-conference.
IndiFoodBev — authentic, impactful and influential
An English-language food and beverage processing and packaging industry B2B platform in print and web, IndiFoodBev is in its third year of publication. It is said that the Indian food and beverage industries represent approximately US$ 900 billion in revenues which implies more than 20% of the country’s GDP. Eliminating the wastage on the farmside can help to deliver more protein to a higher number of the population apart from generating sizable exports. The savings in soil, seeds, water, fertilizer, energy and ultimately food and nutrition could be the most immense contribution that country is poised to make to the moderation of climate change.
To improve your marketing and grow sales to the food and beverage processing and packaging industry, talk to us. Our research and consulting company IppStar [www.ippstar.org] can assess your potential and addressable markets in light of the competition. We can discuss marketing, communication, and sales strategies for market entry and growth.
Suppliers and service providers with a strategy and budget for targeted marketing can discuss using our hybrid print, web, video, and social media channels to create brand recognition linked to market relevance. Our technical writers are ready to meet you and your customers for content.
The second largest producer of fruit and vegetables in the world is continuously expanding processing capacities and delivery systems with appropriate innovative technologies. We cover product and consumer trends, nutrition, processing, research, equipment and packaging from farm to thali. Get our 2025 media kit and recalibrate your role in this dynamic market. Enhance your visibility and relevance to existing markets and turn potential customers into conversations. Ask for a sample copy of our bi-monthly in print or our weekly IndiFoodBev eZine each Wednesday.
For editorial info@ippgroup.in — for advertisement ads1@ippgroup.in and for subscriptions subscription@ippgroup.in
Naresh Khanna – 10 February 2025
Subscribe Now
