In a remarkable feat, Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) has once again secured the first rank in the Food Safety Index 2022-23 among all union territories (UTs). This achievement highlights the consistent dedication and effective measures undertaken by J&K to maintain exemplary food safety standards.
According to an official statement released on Thursday, the Department of Food and Drugs Administration in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) has received the prestigious award for the third consecutive time in 2021, 2022, and 2023. This recognition underscores the consistent excellence demonstrated by the department in ensuring food and drug safety within the region.
The index is released annually by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to measure the performance of states and UTs on various parameters of food safety.
The Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Mansukh Mandaviya, presented the award to Shakeel-ul-Rehman, the Food Safety Commissioner.
“The Jammu and Kashmir also won first prize for having maximum number of ‘Eat Right Mela’ districts in the country. These districts have implemented various initiatives of FSSAI to promote healthy and safe food habits among the consumers,” the statement added.
The Food Safety Index is a comprehensive benchmarking model that dynamically assesses and quantifies the quality of food safety measures in all states and Union Territories (UTs). It offers an unbiased framework for evaluating food safety through both quantitative and qualitative indicators.
The FSSAI began the State Food Safety Index evaluation process for 2022-2023 by undertaking correspondence with Food Safety Commissioners of all UTs/states to furnish the data for statistical evaluation.
The evaluation process focuses on several crucial indicators, including human resources, compliance levels, food testing infrastructure and surveillance, training and capacity building, as well as consumer empowerment. These factors serve as the basis for assessing the performance and effectiveness of food safety measures.
