State Food Safety Index

Why in news?

• The Union Health Minister has released the fifth State Food Safety Index in New Delhi.

About State Food Safety Index:

• State Food Safety Index is an annual assessment released by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) started in 2018-19
• It is a dynamic quantitative and qualitative benchmarking model that provides an objective framework for evaluating food safety across all States/UTs.

Parameters:

• This index is based on the performance of the State/ UT on five significant parameters, namely
  • 1) Human Resources and Institutional Data
  • 2) Compliance
  • 3) Food Testing – Infrastructure and Surveillance
  • 4) Training & Capacity Building
  • 5) Consumer Empowerment.

Significance:

• The index is meant to create a competitive and positive change in the food safety ecosystem in the country.
• The step was also taken to galvanize states and union territories to work towards ensuring safe food for citizens.

Key rankings of the index:

• Among the large state category:
  • Kerala is the top-ranking state followed by Punjab and Tamil Nadu.
• Among the small states category:
  • Goa is the top-ranking state followed by Manipur, and Sikkim.
• Among the Union Territories category:
  • Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi and Chandigarh secured first, second and third ranks respectively.

PRACTICE QUESTION:

State Food Safety Index is released by:

(a) NITI Aayog

(b) Union Ministry of Health

(c) Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)

(d) Bureau of Indian Standards

Answer