Dimapur, June 7 (MExN): The Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organisation (NVCO) observed World Food Safety Day on June 7 in Kohima.
President of NVCO Kezhokhoto Savi, Advocate said that the World Food Safety Day is celebrated to draw the attention and inspire action to help, prevent, detect and manage food borne risks and also contributing to food security, human health, economy prosperity, tourism and sustainable development.
It informed that the Government of Nagaland has implemented the Food Safety & Standard Act 2006. As per the Act, ‘Food safety’ refers to the condition and practices that preserve the quality of food to prevent contamination of food borne illness.
It stated 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.
The NVC highlighted that Nagaland State has the level-2 laboratory worth Rs 10 crore at State Public Health Laboratory in Kohima. The equipment is fully funded by the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI), and is the first in the entire North East.
Savi suggested that it is best for the food business operators (FBOs) to come forward in bringing their products/food item/sample to get tested in the State Public Health Laboratory in Kohima before they are sold to the consumers.
“It is no point to have all the modern food testing facilities if the citizens don’t come forward to avail the facilities,” Savi said.
The NVCO said that it has been conducting awareness campaigns on Food Safety over the years and assured the public that it will continue to do so in the coming days. While stressing that ‘health is wealth,’ Savi also added that health depends on the food we consume.
As the world is fighting against COVID-19, it is very important for the citizens of the state to remain healthy and consume healthy food, he concluded.
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