Friday, January 23, 2009, 

The Centre is getting ready with a plan for its ‘Safe Food, Tasty Food’ project in Delhi, which it will roll out during the Commonwealth Games in 2010. The Games are likely to bring in a large number of participants and visitors to the city; according to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), this provides a unique opportunity to review and upgrade the safety of the food served in eating establishments in Delhi, the perception of Delhi as a hygienic and safe food destination and the quality and safety of life in the national capital. It will also give India the opportunity to project the safety of local cuisines, keeping in view the emphasis on standards and self-compliance sought to be introduced by the Food Safety and Standards Act (in place of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954).

The project to upgrade food safety has to involve all stakeholders including government, non-governmental organisations, local bodies, establishment owners, consumers, the regulatory machinery for food safety etc. Safety and hygiene are too important to be left to the government, alone.