Context:
Nearly 100 jails across the country have been certified as ‘Eat Right Campus’ by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
More on the news
- The ‘Eat Right Campus’ certification process ensures that certified jails meet strict food safety and nutrition standards, showcasing their commitment to promoting the well-being of inmates.
- The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare highlights that the highest number of jails certified were from Uttar Pradesh, followed by Punjab, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh.
Initiative saw participation and certification of some prominent jails of India, including:
- Tihar Prison in Delhi,
- Central Jail Gaya in Bihar,
- Modern Central Jail in Punjab,
- Central Jail Rewa in Madhya Pradesh and other.
- The participant jail campuses undergo comprehensive audits to ensure compliance with four key parameters, which include basic hygiene criteria, steps to ensure the provision of healthy food and efforts towards building awareness about local and seasonal food.
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
- It is a statutory body under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006
- Established in 2008, it functions under the administration of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
- Headquartered at New Delhi.
- It has been created for laying down science-based standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption and for matter related to enforce the provision of FSS act.
Eat Right India Movement
- Inspired by the focus on preventive and promotive healthcare in the the National Health Policy 2017 and key initiatives like Ayushman Bharat, POSHAN Abhiyaan, and Swachh Bharat Mission, FSSAI launched the ‘Eat Right India’ movement.
- It aims to transform India’s food safety and nutrition environment through a judicious mix of regulatory, capacity building, collaborative and empowerment approaches.
- The tagline ‘Sahi Bhojan. Behtar Jeevan’: foundation of this movement.
- The Eat Right India movement is based on three key themes/pillars – Eat Safe, Eat Healthy, and Eat Sustainable.
About Eat right campus:
- This initiative falls under FSSAI’s Eat Right India movement and aims to promote safe, healthy and sustainable food in different workplaces and institutions, including jails.
- This initiative fosters a culture of responsibility and accountability towards food safety and nutrition within the prison system, setting an example for other institutions and inspiring a broader shift towards safer food environments nationwide.
- Its objective is to improve the health of people and the planet and promote social and economic development of the nation.
How to become an Eat Right Campus?
Campuses are evaluated and certified as ‘Eat Right Campus based on four key parameters:
- food safety measures,
- provision of healthy and sustainable food,
- awareness building for making informed food choices,
- and environmental sustainability.
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