Itanagar, July 7: The District Level Steering Committee Meeting on food safety of Capital Itanagar was held on Thursday in the Conference Hall of the Deputy Commissioner Talo Potom.
Lokam Mangha Asstt Food Controller while presenting a PPT on food safety legislation and its needs, said that there is an urgent requirement of regulation in Food Supply chain.
He briefed in detailed about Food Safety and Standards Act and Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1911 and Rules 1955.
He also gave an elaborate presentation on various components of Food Safety.
He highlighted how the presence of pesticides, insecticides, additives etc in food is the major reason for rise in the instances of cancer and other lifestyle diseases/ailments in human. He emphasised that the business community should ensure that safe and unadulterated food is sold in the market for consumption of general public. He also briefed about various laws relating to food safety.
He informed that Food safety on wheel is also functional to check food safety standards.
Major menaces related to food were also highlighted like presence of formalin in fish, carbide in fruits, use of newspaper for wrapping and serving food.
He sought the help and cooperation of Market Welfare Committees for dealing with the menace of rampant use of carbide in fruits by the vendors.
He said that changes need to be incorporated like avoiding newspaper wrapping which has presence of lead and which is again hazardous for human health.
He stressed on the need to carry out awareness regarding the harmful effects of chemicals in foods.
Clarifying about the viral news about plastic eggs/ rice, Mangha said that FSSAI has released a document countering the claim of manufacturing of plastic egg as myth. He said that if the chicken is fed excessive amount of castor seeds, then the egg tends to become like plastic.
He also said that to run any kind of eatery or restaurant/ hotel, necessary food safety licence has to be obtained which is available online too. The details are available in foscos.fssai.gov.in
Joram Lotu from IMC said that obtaining of food licence by the applicants of grocery shops and hotels, restaurants and other food outlets/ eateries should be made mandatory.
EAC Naharlagun Likha Radh suggested the Food Safety Officers to sensitise the public regarding the fake news of plastic eggs/ rice in the market by conducting awareness through press briefing, print media or hoardings/ posters etc.
