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FSSAI Consumer Awareness
Know how FSSAI functions to create consumer awareness about food safety.
Contains information on the Eat Right India movement, FSSAI training, and public health initiatives.
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Overview of FSSAI Consumer Awareness
- FSSAI's consumer awareness campaigns play a crucial role in educating the public about the importance of safe food handling, proper storage, and the significance of food labelling. These initiatives are vital for consumer protection, ensuring that food products meet stringent safety and quality standards.
- The protection of consumers in the food sector involves comprehensive measures designed to safeguard them from health risks associated with food consumption. FSSAI implements regulations and guidelines to prevent adulteration, contamination, and misbranding of food products, reinforcing regulatory compliance and enhancing public health.
- FSSAI consumer awareness initiatives, such as the Eat Right Movement, workshops, campaigns, and online resources, significantly increase food safety consciousness among the public. These efforts not only raise customer awareness about food and safety regulations, but they also strengthen the overall food safety ecosystem. By empowering consumers with knowledge and resources, FSSAI fosters a collaborative approach to ensuring the safety and integrity of the food supply chain, promoting preventive measures, and promoting health through stakeholder collaboration.
Introduction to FSSAI Consumer Awareness Initiatives
- The primary objective of FSSAI and the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006 is to provide whole food for human consumption. Consumer awareness is a major aspect of the Act. Consumers in fact are the major stakeholder in the food chain and are empowered under Section 40 of Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006 and 2.4.4 of FSS rules 2011.
- As per the Act any individual consumer purchasing any food article can get it analysed by the food analyst through a procedure outlined in the Act. They can pay the required fees and receive a report of analysis from the food analyst within a period of 14 days. The consumer can also inform the food business operator on the time of purchase regarding their intention of testing the product. If the product is not in compliance with the Act the purchaser will get the refund of the fees paid. The report will also further be passed to a designated officer to follow the procedure laid down in the Section 42S and online portals like Eat Right India initiative, Food Safety Connect App ,to directly engage with consumers and create awareness.
Key Consumer Awareness Programs by FSSAI
FSSAI has initiated multiple consumer awareness programs like Clean Street Food Hub, CSFH, Eat Right India, Eat Right Mela, Eat Right Creativity Challenges, and Food Safety on Wheels. Apart from this, it has also maintained convergence with established government programs, including the National Health Mission. Ayushman Bharat Yojana-integrated child development services midday meal scheme multi ministerial Poshan Abhiyan and Anaemia mukt Bharat.
Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) Activities
FSSAI focuses on five priority areas, like
- Promoting food safety and hygiene to prevent foodborne illnesses
- Promoting healthy diets to prevent in diseases
- Promote 45 foods to prevent micronutrient deficiency
- Combat food adulteration and food fraud
- Prevent food waste, and fight hunger.
With the smart approach of FSSAI, they have directly empowered consumers by providing certificates, hygiene rating systems, and online portals to raise consumer grievances. FSSAI focuses on social and behavioural change, multi-stakeholder partnership, available policy and regulatory support, a robust consumer complaint handling system, and a triggering informed choice approach to keep consumers away and initiate the required action.
FSSAI also takes greater strides in Information Education and Communication (IEC) activities. Some of the reasons for IEC activities include FSSAI participation in the 40th India International Trade Fair, participation in the 40th India International Trade Fair, participation in Indus Food 2021, the 64th annual National Conference of the Indian Public Health Association (IPHACON), and participation in the 27th Indian Convention of Food Scientists and Technologists (ICFoST). Detailed reports are established after every activity on the official portal. FSSAI initiates actions on these events to create consumer awareness and provide insights on the multiple health benefits of various indigenous food products from India.
Engagement with Professionals in Food Safety & Nutrition (NetProFaN)
NetProFan is an initiative encompassing multiple professionals in various areas like food nutrition and public health. The professionals come together to promote safe food and healthy diet for all the citizens. Expertise from these professionals play a crucial role in creating consumer awareness. Members of the NetProFan includes:
They help to develop public food safety awareness campaigns and educational programs on the value of eating well and safely for a healthy lifestyle.
The main vision is to empower Indian citizens to have safe, nutritious and wholesome food. It focuses on encompassing the entire food ecosystem to work to achieve a complete safe and nutritious food chain. NetProFan is a journey of inclusiveness where every stakeholder has a major role. It focuses on developing a structure and shaping it as per the requirement. It is a plan to create a platform of professional bodies associated with nutrition.
It plays a crucial role by providing technical inputs towards various nutrition and food related aspects in India. It provides an outreach and engagement opportunity directly to the customer. It documents and disseminates scientific development and knowledge in the field of food and nutrition and focuses on developing and Surveillance training for consumer safety.
The key objectives of NetProFan include
- Enable further growth of the associations and professional development of its members
- Expand the knowledge-base of the profession through collaboration across disciplines
- Support various flagship programmes of the Government on food and nutrition
- Enable further growth of the associations and professional development of its members
- Expand the knowledge-base of the profession through collaboration across disciplines
- Support various flagship programmes of the Government on food and nutrition.
Understanding Food Safety and Quality Marks
To aid customers in distinguishing between various products such as organic meals, fortified goods, and sports nutrition products free from banned substances, symbols and logos have been developed by the FSSAI. Additionally, establishment-based emblems like RUCO (Repurposed Used Cooking Oil) are being promoted to enhance consumer awareness.
The Role of Food Labelling in Consumer Awareness
Food labelling plays a crucial role in creating consumer awareness. As per the law it is mandatory for food business operators to print all the vital information of the food product on the label.
Standards for Food Labelling
FSSAI has set very stringent labelling regulations, here is a clear outline for the same:
- The label must be in English, Hindi, or Devnagri
- Additionally, it can include information in other languages as needed
- It should not contain false, misleading, or deceptive information about the food
- The label must be securely affixed to the container
- All information on the label should be clear, prominent, and easily readable by consumers
- If there's a wrapper covering the container, it must include necessary information or allow the label on the product inside to be easily read
- The food's name, trade name, and description must be included, along with a list of ingredients in descending order of composition by weight or volume if the food contains more than one ingredient.
Impact of Labelling on Consumer Behavior
Labels have a major impact on consumer behaviour and dominate the purchase to a greater extent. It enhances consumer satisfaction, retention, and advocacy by improving the product experience, reinforcing the brand image, and encouraging repeat purchases and referrals. Packaging and labelling significantly contribute to the overall purchase and usage experience of a product.
Enhancing Consumer Knowledge on Food Packaging Standards
FSSAI maintains stringent packaging and labelling regulations. It is crucial to outline all the information regarding the food product along with the general requirements on the labelling to make sure that the consumer is aware of what they are purchasing. The Food Safety and Standards Packaging and Labelling Regulations of 2011 offer a concise summary of the numerous elements that must be included in the product packaging and labeling. The labelling should definitely contain product-specific requirements and packaging requirements for different products and food articles. The labelling should contain general requirements like information about nutrition, a list of ingredients, the names of the food additives added, and much more. The labelling should also mention the declaration of veg and non-veg with a green and brown colour dot covered by a rectangle, respectively. The size of the logo and the symbols of colours and flavours are also clearly outlined by the FSSAI.
FSSAI's Food Safety Emergency Response Mechanism
A national Food Safety Emergency Response (FSER) is introduced by the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI). It outlines multidimensional coordination guidelines, roles, and management actions in food safety emergency scenarios.
As per Section 21 of the Food Safety and Standard Act of 2006, no food item may contain pesticide or insecticide residues, veterinary medicine residues, antibiotic residues, solvent residues, or pharmacological active ingredients. Here are some of the main motives:
- To manage, contain, and eliminate hazards swiftly
- To reduce harm to property and the environment
- To provide prompt medical care to the injured
- To expedite rescue and headcount operations
- To protect others through timely evacuation
- To guarantee the safety of facilities and individuals before they recommence work
- To restore normal operations as soon as possible.
The primary objective is to prevent food safety-related events and manage and respond to any food safety situations. The emergency response phases are segregated into three major sections namely:
Alert Phase : Where the food safety incident is identified and notified to infosan secretariat or national food safety authorities.
Action Phase: This provides recall implicated food temporary ban on the implicated food, prevent import or export of any such food products and initiate a process for tracing the implicated food with human cases. This Phase also involves providing awareness to consumers to curtail the risk extent.
Stand Down Phase: This Phase involves withdrawal of band and advisor after controlling the situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of FSSAI's consumer awareness initiatives?
How can consumers identify food products that meet FSSAI's safety standards?
What information is typically included in FSSAI's food labelling standards?
How does awareness of food labelling standards influence consumer behaviour?
What is the significance of food packaging standards for consumers?
What actions does FSSAI take in response to food safety emergencies?
How can consumers contribute to FSSAI's efforts in ensuring food safety?
What impact has FSSAI's consumer awareness programs had on public health?
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