Morung Express news
Kohima | December 2
Deputy Director, Food Safety Standards Authority of India, Delhi, Naveen Kumar observed that so far adulteration of food is very minimum in the state compared to other region in the country.
He was speaking after launching of the Food safety stall set up by State food safety Authority, department of Health and family welfare under the banner , ‘Ensuring Food Safety: a Global Priority’ at Heritage Village Kisama to promote food safety in the country.
The director said such a stall will be helpful in giving awareness to the general public on what kind of adulteration is occurring.
IEC materials in the local language are also being provided at the stall for the public to avail and be benefitted upon.
He lauded the state food safety team for doing well in this aspect and being pro active in the field and other approach including timely submission of reports to the centre.
However, with the growing population, Kumar said it has been observed that there are many forgery business and fake products against original products and sub-standard or low quality of food or reselling expired products in markets which are becoming rampant.
In this backdrop, he said many food safety on wheels have been deployed to ensure fast testing and immediate action can be taken and prevent such sub-standard and low grade products in the market.
The Deputy Director mentioned that there is more than a network of 200 labs in the country. On penalties, he said there are provisions of imprisonment; hefty penalties are also imposed in terms of gravity of the offence.
Throughout the states, he said the authority is doing a 24/7 job to ensure food safety and wholesome food through central licensing, and food sampling. Strict actions are also taken against offenders.
It may be mentioned that Nagaland have only 1 state public health laboratory in Paramedical, Kohima where both enforcement and surveillance samples are tested here.
During the 10 days Hornbill Festival, people can come and witness how food standards are tested in lab set up, and a licensing and registration booth under the initiative of the FSSAI, Food safety Wing, Kohima has been set up.
