Food safety problems in the state
are showing a declining trend, as per a study conducted by Food Safety
Department (FSD). The operations of the department had helped achieve this.
The Commissionerate of Food Safety
had taken the initiative to educate and make food business operators aware of
the need for scientific and healthy modes of food processing in the wake of
rising health hazards due to the unhygienic handling of food material.
It was in this context that A K
Mini, Kollam District Officer of Food Safety Department, was entrusted with the
job of bringing out a book on food safety by Biju Prabhakar IAS, Commissioner
of Food Safety.
Health Minister V S Sivakumar
launched the book this month and the book conveys the practices to be followed
for safe food processing. This book is being given free of cost to food
business operators and Food Safety Department is planning to bring out more
books in this regard in the context of encouraging response.
Given her 26 years of experience in
this field, Mini had taken the opportunity to explain in the book the important
rules on food safety.
“The effective functioning of the
Food Safety Dept depends on its following the rules of evaluation, education
and enforcement. In the first phase of evaluation the real issues existing in
food processing are evaluated. In the second phase the stress is on educating
food business operators in following healthy modes of food processing. In the
third phase the stress is on enforcement of norms legally,’’ said Mini.
Currently, the Food Safety Dept is in the educating phase and is educating food
business operators. ‘’Health and safety of a society depends on the action of
each and every person in the food chain; like manufacturers, processors, importers,
exporters, hoteliers, store keepers, retailers etc. If all in this chain are
aware about the scientific and safe modes of food handling, the whole chain
will be safe,’’ Mini said.
The book also contains warnings
about legal implications to those who violate norms. “This book is being
supplied free of cost to all in the food processing sector,’’ Mini said.
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