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India Today
3 days ago
- Health
- India Today
Behind India's food reform movement: A look at the Eat Right India strategy
India's top food safety and nutrition movement, Eat Right India, is making progress in improving the country's food in 2018 by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the initiative promotes safe, healthy, and sustainable food for all. Now in its seventh year, the campaign has trained over 12 lakh food handlers and repurposed 55 lakh litres of used cooking oil, of which 39 lakh litres have been converted into Minister Narendra Modi earlier praised the movement during his Mann Ki Baat address on June 29, calling on citizens to reduce oil in their diets and embrace healthy eating habits. "Reduce oil in food by 10%, reduce excess weight. When you are fit, you will be superhit in your life," he said, underlining the need for public participation in tackling obesity and other lifestyle CHANGING FOOD LANDSCAPEModern lifestyles and urbanisation have led to rising rates of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease in the same time, concerns around food safety, from chemical residues to unhygienic cooking practices, have become more Right India was designed as a response to these challenges, aiming to make both food safety and nutrition a public health movement works across three pillars: improving food safety standards, educating consumers, and promoting environmentally sustainable STATIONS AND CLEAN FOOD HUBSAs of July 6, 2025, India has 284 certified Eat Right Stations at railway hubs and 249 Clean Street Food Hubs where vendors have been trained to maintain hygiene and serve safe like FoSTaC (Food Safety Training and Certification) are ensuring that street vendors, restaurant workers, and other food handlers are equipped with proper knowledge of food safety like 'Aaj Se Thoda Kam' encourage the public to cut down on salt, sugar, and oil. Meanwhile, Trans Fat-Free India is working to eliminate harmful industrial fats from processed RIGHT CAMPUSES IN OFFICES AND SCHOOLSFrom Eat Right Campuses in offices and hospitals to Eat Right Schools that include nutrition in the curriculum, the campaign is bringing healthier food practices to everyday places of worship and fruit and vegetable markets are being certified under the is also pushing sustainability, urging businesses to cut down on single-use plastics and manage food waste responsibly. One of the major successes has been the RUCO (Repurpose Used Cooking Oil) initiative, where used oil from restaurants is collected and turned into RECOGNITIONThe campaign has earned international praise, winning the Rockefeller Foundation's Food Systems Vision Prize in 2021 and being recognised by the World Health Organisation as a global best practice for reducing trans strong support from government bodies, private businesses, NGOs, and citizen groups, Eat Right India could make nutritious, safe, and eco-friendly food a reality for every Indian.- Ends
The Hindu
24-04-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
12,000 kg of banned tobacco products seized in four months in Erode district
The Food Safety and Drug Administration Department has, in the current year, seized 12,000 kg of banned tobacco products from 879 shops and imposed fines totaling ₹2.15 crore on the shopkeepers. According to a release, the Erode District Food Safety Department has undertaken several proactive measures to ensure the public has access to safe food. These initiatives include awareness campaigns, food safety inspections, and quality checks. As a result, the district has emerged as a leading example in food safety enforcement. The release stated that all food establishments, from small-scale eateries to large-scale operations, are required to obtain a licence from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). Over the last four months, the department has seen a 31% increase in basic registrations and a 19% increase in State-level licences. Repurpose Used Cooking Oil (RUCO), a project introduced by FSSAI, aims to convert used cooking oil (UCO) into biodiesel. This year, 94 metric tons of used oil have been collected, of which 64 metric tons have been successfully converted into biodiesel. The production, storage, distribution, and sale of banned tobacco products and nicotine-laced items such as gutka and pan masala are completely prohibited in the State. In Erode district, a total of 879 shops were sealed for selling such banned items. Awareness campaigns have also been carried out to discourage the use of polythene wrappers in restaurants, bakeries, grocery stores, and retail outlets. Fines are being imposed on establishments found using plastic covers. Consuming unhygienically produced food can lead to contamination by harmful bacteria, posing serious health risks, including fatal illnesses. To address this, food safety officers have been actively inspecting food establishments and penalising those found in violation of hygiene standards. The public is encouraged to report any food safety concerns via WhatsApp, email, or mobile app. Complaints should include specific details such as the location, type of quality issue, and relevant bills or receipts. Complaints can be submitted by phone at 94440 42322, via email at unavupukar@ or through the TN Food Safety Consumer App. Issues such as labelling errors on food packages or poor-quality bottled water can also be reported, the release added.
