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Daily News Analysis

State Food Safety Index

22nd September, 2021 Economy

Figure 3: No Copyright Infringement Intended

Context:

  • Government released Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)’s 3rd State Food Safety Index (SFSI) to measure the performance of States across five parameters of food safety.

 

About State Food Safety Index:

  • FSSAI has developed State Food Safety Index to measure the performance of states on various parameters of Food Safety. 
  • This index is based on performance of State/ UT on five significant parameters, namely,
    • availability of human resources in the food sector in proportion to the population;
    • overall coverage of food businesses in licensing and registration commensurate with size and population;
    • promptness in attending to the consumer grievances and availability of help desk and web portals for grievance redressal;
    • food testing infrastructure and surveillance to ensure quality of foods; training and capacity building of the regulatory staff and laboratory personnel;
    • consumer empowerment through food fortification, eat right and hygiene rating of restaurants.
  • Index is a dynamic quantitative and qualitative benchmarking model that provides an objective framework for evaluating food safety across all States/UTs.
  • The first such report was released on World Food Safety Day on June 7, 2019.

Result:

  • Gujarat, Kerala and Tamil Nadu lead the third state food safety index rankings released by the food regulator.
  • Among eight small states, Goa is ranked first and Mizoram last.