The state department of health and family welfare (H&FW) through its food safety division would be observing the “World Food Safety Day,’ on June 7 under the theme, “safe food now for a healthy tomorrow”.
A press release through the department informed that this year’s theme aims to stress that production and consumption of safe food has immediate and long term benefits for people, the planet and economy.
While stating that food safety was a pertinent issue that had significant impact on public health, the department informed that every year, 100 million cases of food borne diseases (FBD) were reported in India.
“These food-borne ailments not only pose a threat to the health of the public but also affect the socio-economic development of the country”, it stated.
The food safety division of the state implements the Food Safety and Standard Act 2006 through enforcement and analytical wing. The food safety division is headed by principal secretary (commissioner, food safety) at government level, principal director (addl commissioner, food safety) at directorate level, director (health), addl director, state program officer, assistant commissioner (enforcement) and technical officer (analytical).
Implementation of enforcement activities is done at identified three zonal level for the state by designated officer assisted by food safety officers and analytical activities is executed at NABL accredited state public health laboratory (state food laboratory) headed by food analyst assisted by technical staff.