Nagaland finished fifth among the eight smaller states in the 5th State Food Safety Index (SFSI), which evaluates the performance of states and union territories across six different aspects of food safety. Goa, Manipur and Sikkim secured first, second and third slots respectively. Among the larger states, Kerala secured the top ranking, followed by Punjab and Tamil Nadu.
Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi and Chandigarh secured the first, second, and third ranks respectively among the union territories.
As per the score sheet for small states, Nagaland scored a total of 29 marks out of 100. Goa, Manipur and Sikkim scored 51, 40 and 39.5 respectively.
Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya unveiled the 5th SFSI at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi on Wednesday coinciding with World Food Safety Day. Recognizing the achievements of various states and union territories, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya felicitated the winners based on their rankings for the year 2022-23.
Launched in 2018-19, the SFSI aims to foster healthy competition and catalyze positive change in the food safety ecosystem throughout the country, ultimately ensuring the provision of safe and wholesome food to all residents.
Dr. Mandaviya announced that 25 lakh food business operators will be trained by FSSAI in the next 3 years to ensure that food quality standards are met across the country. He also announced the setting up of 100 Food Streets across the country which meet the quality benchmark for food safety, hygiene, and nutrition. “Food quality is a part of wellness”, he remarked.
Based on the performance of States/ UTs in the last financial year, every year Food Safety and Standards Authority of India evaluates the performance of States/UTs on food safety parameters decided by FSSAI.
M’laya bans fish import as tests find formalin
SHILLONG, JUN 8 (PTI): Meghalaya government on Thursday issued an order banning sale of fish brought in from outside the state for a period of 15 days after sample test of river water fishes shipments showed presence of formalin, an official said.
“Storage, distribution or sale of imported fresh fish or crustaceans brought from outside the state is hereby prohibited for a period of 15 days in the interest of public health or till corrective measures are taken with effect from the date of issue of this notification,” FSSAI commissioner RM Kurbah said in an order.
Non-Compliance to this Notification will attract imprisonment upto 7 years and a fine of up to Rs Ten Lakh as per law, he said. At least 30 of 42 samples collected from all districts had tested positive for formalin.
More samples are being tested at the state food lab here.
The state ships in about 21,000 MT of fishes mostly from Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Assam.
The state produced only about 12,330 MT during financial year 2016-17 while the total requirement is about 33,000 MT annually, a senior supply department official said.
