The Deputy Commissioner (DC) Anantnag, SF.Hamid today chaired a meeting of District Level Advisory Committee (DLAC) on ‘Safe Food and Healthy Diets’ in the Conference Hall of DC Office Complex, here.The meeting was attended by all the members of the committee appointed by the Govt. The meeting started with a comprehensive review of the activities carried out by the Food Safety Department Anantnag.
The member secretary of DLAC meeting appraised the chair and the committee regarding the achievements/activities carried out including the revenue amounting to Rs. 3679600/- from penalties/License & Registration fee, by the Food Safety Department Anantnag during the current financial year. The members of the DLAC meeting held detailed discussions on the issues related to food safety measures being followed by the Food Business Operators in the District Anantnag.
During the meeting, DC was also apprised about the current status of food safety in District Anantnag and various proactive measures undertaken by the Food Safety Department to ensure the proper implementation of different provisions of Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006 to ensure safe and healthy food for the general public.
While underlining the need of maintaining high standards of food safety for wellbeing of the general public, DC issued instructions to Officers to ensure safe and quality food availability in the market. He emphasized the need for joint inspection squads to monitor and curb the menace of unhealthy and unhygienic food products, especially prepared foods, meat and meat products, milk and milk products, etc.
The DC directed for taking strict action under law against the FBOs involved in violation of the Food Safety Act. He further directed Officers to organize awareness programs involving all stakeholders to educate the public on the importance of millets in the healthy food pyramid especially among the students who start young. He further asked them to ensure mass awareness among the public regarding cultivation, processing and consumption of millets.
DC emphasized the need to enhance the scope of Training & Capacity Building (FoSTaC) and to create more trained and certified food safety supervisors in Govt. Sector like MDM and private sector for building a culture of self-compliance through systematic training and capacity building of FBOs under the FoSTaC schemes.
The members of DLAC also discussed the Eat Right Initiatives like Construction of well equipped Slaughter House, Identification of “Clean Street Food Hub”, Identification of “Clean and Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Market”, Promoting millets production and consumption, FSSAI licensing/ registration of MDM, ICDS and all PDS centres, and Eat Right School Certification so as to enhance the Food Safety Culture in the District and the chairman issued the necessary directions to the concerned departments for exploring the possibilities in order to achieve the desired results.