‘To remain healthy one has to go for healthy food’
Our Correspondent
Kohima | June 7
Nagaland Voluntary Consumers' Organization (NVCO) president Kezhokhoto Savi today said, “There is a saying 'Health is Wealth' however, health depends on the food we consume and in order to remain healthy one has to go for healthy food.”
Speaking at the first ever World Food Safety Day here at the Directorate of Health & Family Welfare under the theme “Food safety, Everyone’s business,” Savi said that it is so much essential to take up food safety measures and food safety management.
He said that 'Food Safety and Standard Act 2006' was enacted for solving all problems relating to food. For better management of the Act, the central government formed an authority by the name Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI).
The WHO in its 2017 data available, revealed that 3,51,000 people died of food poisoning globally every year and at least 582 million cases of different food-borne disease are experienced worldwide every year, he said.
Stating that the latest data received 600 million cases of food, he said, “This translates into one in 10 people falling ill after eating contaminated food. Children under 5 years of age carry 40% of the food-borne disease with 1,25,000 deaths every year.”
“Every state must have designated officers and some of its responsibilities is that they have the power to issue or cancel license of food business operators,” he said.
Savi said that under the Consumer Protection Act 1986, the consumers have the right to safety, they are protected against marketing of goods and services which are hazardous to life and therefore, the goods which are hazardous to health is illegal and punishable.
Khrukutolu Veswuh, food analyst, State Public Health Laboratory Kohima said that Food Safety Nagaland carried out awareness on safe and nutritious food, conduct Intensive training on DART (Detect Adulteration With Rapid Test), checking and resting of Food Items - fresh fish, fruits, vegetables, spices, street foods etc., check and test water, check and inspects misbranded and expired food items in the districts, inspect and create awareness on Sanitation, Hygiene and personal Hygiene.
Social welfare joint director K. Atoli Sema said the social welfare department is committed to supplying fortified food items as per the directive from the Ministry of Women & Child Development.
She said all the food items like cornflakes, khichiri, Instant Dahlia, protein rich rice food, marigold biscuits, Surho kheer mix, high protein biscuits, energy soya based biscuits and soya based biscuits are Micronutrients fortified.
“All the above mentioned food items are being sent for quality control test to Kolkata quarterly for maintaining the quality of food standards,” she said.
P.J. Joseph from Kohima Municipal Council (KMC) said that KMC has from time to time been checking food selling outlets along with the help of food inspectors from medical department.
He was optimistic that through the observance of food safety day, medical departments will have better mechanism to check adulterated foods and thereby provides the consumer with healthier food items.
Binod from Hotel & Restaurant Union, Kohima said that food safety is of the utmost importance for hotels and restaurants. Stressing the need to make sure that no expiry items are used, he said the Union used to check the hotels, and restaurants from time to time.
“We also check the rooms, dining areas, restaurants to see if the areas are kept neat and clean. Respective kitchens are also check to see if the items are kept in covered containers and that no food is kept exposed,” he said.
Further, he requested the department of Health & Family Welfare to see if the food safety certificate can be made mandatory for all the Hotels and restaurants, tea stalls, dhabas etc in Nagaland.
