India Eat Right Mela

Minister of Health and Family welfare recently launched various initiatives to highlight the importance of nutrient-rich food and healthy practices.

Eat Right Mela

1. It is an outreach activity for citizens to nudge them towards eating right.

2. It is organized by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

3. The Mela provides the opportunity for citizens to

a) Learn about health and nutrition benefits of different types of food

b) Receive dietary advice by experts

c) Engage in dialogues and conversations with food visionaries and experts

d) Relish the delicious street food

4. The mela highlights the importance of the right diet to reduce the disease burden in the country.

About FSSAI

1. It is an autonomous body established under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India.

2. 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.

3. Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of FSSAI are appointed by Government of India. The Chairperson is in the rank of Secretary to Government of India.

4. FSSAI frames the regulations to lay down the Standards and guidelines in relation to articles of food and specifying the appropriate system of enforcing various standards thus notified.

5. It lays down mechanisms and guidelines for accreditation of certification bodies engaged in certification of food safety management system for food businesses.

6. It provides training programmes for persons who are involved or intend to get involved in food businesses.

NETSCOFAN

1. NETSCOFAN stands for Network for Scientific Co-operation for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.

2. It is a network of research and academic institutions working in the area of food and nutrition.

3. It would comprise of eight groups of institutions working in different areas,

a) Biological

b) Chemical

c) Nutrition & labeling

d) Food of animal origin

e) Food of plant origin

f) Water & beverages

g) Food testing

h)Safer and sustainable packaging.

4. NETSCOFAN directory was also launched. It covers detailed information of various heads and lead scientists and associated partnering institutions.

Purple Book

a) It is a handbook on diets for diseases.

b) The book provides general guidelines for hospitals on suitable diets for common medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, cancer, gut disorders, etc.