First World Food Safety Day observed in Kohima

Dimapur, June 7 (EMN): The first-ever World Food Safety Day was observed at the directorate of Health and Family Welfare in Kohima on June 7, according to a report from the state government’s mouthpiece, DIPR. The theme of the occasion was ‘food safety, everyone’s business.’

Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Pangnyu Phom, in his address, said that the food we eat must be from contamination or adulteration. According to him, ‘due to technical skills applied’ by those who attempts to adulterate food items, it was “not easy” for the law enforcing agencies to catch the offenders.

Consequently, government of India has passed ‘The Food Safety and Standards Acts 2006,’ he said.

Phom also informed that the existing state’s public health laboratory in Kohima is now fully renovated and upgraded with sophisticated high-end equipment; and through the government’s initiative ‘Food Safety on Wheel’ was also launched for on-the-spot testing of any food item.

The ‘Food Safety on Wheel’ team had recently detected formalin in fish and other chemicals in fruit products which, according to him, was one of the milestones the department has achieved.

In his keynote address, the Principal Secretary and Food Safety Commissioner, Himato Zhimomi said that food safety is everybody’s business and very important, particularly for the young, because they are the most vulnerable group in the society.

“He also mentioned that food safety is not only about administration but also about governments, producers, civil society, enforcement, sellers and buyers. It is estimated that because of food safety issues and other expenses that arise, about $95 billon of food productivity is wasted,” the report read.

Himato highlighted some parameters of food safety.

The principal director and additional food safety commissioner stressed on three major health challenges: food borne, non-communicable diseases and malnutrition. He mentioned that all these challenges could be prevented by securing food safety, good nutrition and healthy eating habits.

He further said that the main objective of Food Safety Standards Act 2006 is to ensure the availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption. He also said that the state’s food safety team has worked relentlessly to bring about changes in Nagaland.