The Food safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) has declared Goa as well as Manipur and Meghalaya as the top three states for ensuring food security.
The apex food safety regulator of the country has ranked these three states under smaller states category.
Among the larger states, Gujarat was the top ranking stat, followed by Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.
Among UTs, Chandigarh, Delhi and Andaman Islands secured top ranks for food safety.
They have been judged under five different parameters including Human Resources and Institutional Data, Compliance, Food Testing – Infrastructure and Surveillance, Training & Capacity Building and Consumer Empowerment.
The FSSAI made the announcement on Sunday while releasing the results of the second State Food Safety Index to celebrate World Food Safety Day through a webinar.
In alignment with this year’s theme, “Food Safety is everyone’s business”, the celebration was dedicated to all those in the supply chain who have ensured the uninterrupted availability of safe food for everyone during this COVID-19 pandemic.
The FSSAI has also released an e-handbook on “Eat Right during COVID-19” for citizens.
An updated detailed guidance note ‘Food Hygiene and Safety Guidelines for Food Businesses during Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Pandemic’ was also released.
“This document specifies hygiene and sanitary requirements, responsibility of management and sector specific requirementsto prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the food supply chain along with a section on management of food establishments on identification of COVID-19 positive cases,” an official said.
Preeti Sudan, secretary in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said, “As India is lifting the lockdown, we need to ensure adequate precautions are taken in restaurants and food service and delivery establishments. We must emphasize food safety through social media and other communication platforms.”