A meeting of the District Level Advisory Committee (DLAC) on Safe “Food & Healthy Diets” under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner Anantnag Anshul Garg was held here today.
The meeting was attended by DPO ICDS, CMO (Vice Chairperson), Assistant Commissioner Food Safety/Designated Officer (Member Secretary), representatives of SSP, GM DIC, CEO & AD Food, other members, social activists, legal experts and persons from food agencies. Speaking on the mandate of the committee, the AC Food Safety (designated Officer) said that the committee has to ensure smooth implementation of FSSA 2006 & compliance with rules and regulations there under.
“It also has to focus on promotion of fortified foods in ICDS and MDM & development of nutritional & food safety literacy amongst the citizens by convergence with Poshan Abhiyan & SBM programmes,” he said.
AC added the committee also oversees the registration of food business units, surveillance of food items, monitoring of inspections, sampling, enforcement, prosecution and adjudication related to food safety.
“It also monitors; the quality & safety of Milk & Milk products, grievances of food sellers as well as consumers, training of the unit holders, food borne diseases etc,” the officer informed. The meeting was informed that more than 4000 food business units have been registered in the district so far. Every month, 32 food samples are collected & sent to labs both in and outside the UT to establish their safety & quality,” the statement read.
It said besides, the routine inspection of milk and milk products is done and the below standard samples are destroyed on prima facie condition and quality by the Food Safety Officers. “The grievances are disposed off within the stipulated time as provided in the act”, the statement said.
The chairman directed the designated officer to register all food units in Anantnag town by the end of March 2021.
He said inspection cum awareness drive among the bakers with main focus on hygiene, quality and quantity of ingredients and shelf life of the end product should be held.
“Initially, the drive should be more of a hand holding and awareness type than an enforcement type,” he added.
Chairman also directed to co-opt officials from Legal Metrology, Food and Municipalities in these drives.