Eat Right Station Certification

• Bhopal Railway Station was recently awarded a 4-star 'Eat Right Station' certification for providing passengers with high-quality, nutritious food.
• The 4-star rating indicates that the station is fully compliant in providing safe and sanitary food to passengers.

What is the 'Eat Right Station' Certification?

• The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) awards the 'Eat Right Station' certification to railway stations that set standards in providing safe and wholesome food to passengers.
• Following the completion of an FSSAI-appointed third-party audit with ratings ranging from 1 to 5, the station is awarded a certificate.
• The certification is a component of the 'Eat Right India' campaign.
• Other railway stations with this certification include: Anand Vihar Terminal Railway Station in Delhi; Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus in Mumbai; Mumbai Central Railway Station in Mumbai; Vadodara Railway Station in Mumbai; and Chandigarh Railway Station in Chandigarh.

About the Eat Right Movement:

• It is an FSSAI initiative to transform the country's food system to ensure safe, healthy, and sustainable food for all Indians. 'Sahi Bhojan, Behtar Jeevan' is its tagline.
• It is in line with the National Health Policy 2017 and includes flagship programs such as Ayushman Bharat, POSHAN Abhiyaan, Anaemia Mukt Bharat, and Swachh Bharat Mission.
• Eat Right India employs a strategic mix of regulatory, capacity-building, collaborative, and empowerment approaches to ensure that our food is good for both people and the environment.

What are the Initiatives Involved?

• FSSAI created the State Food Safety Index to assess states' performance in five areas of food safety: human resources and institutional data, compliance, food testing - infrastructure and surveillance, training and capacity building, and consumer empowerment.
• FSSAI established the Eat Right Awards to recognize the contributions of food companies and individuals in empowering citizens to choose safe and healthy food options.
• Eat Right Mela: A FSSAI-organized outreach activity for citizens to encourage them to eat healthily.

What is the Value of Food Safety?

• Access to adequate amounts of safe food is critical to maintaining life and promoting good health.
• Foodborne illnesses are typically infectious or toxic in nature, and are frequently imperceptible to the naked eye. They are caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites, or chemical substances entering the body through contaminated food or water.
• Every year, an estimated 4,20,000 people worldwide die as a result of eating contaminated food, and children under the age of five account for 40% of the foodborne disease burden, accounting for 1,25,000 deaths.
• Food safety is critical in ensuring that food remains safe at all stages of the food chain, from production to harvest, processing, storage, distribution, and finally preparation and consumption.
• Food production accounts for up to 30% of global greenhouse-gas emissions, which contribute to global warming.

About FSSAI:

• It is an autonomous body of the Government of India's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. It was established under the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006, which consolidates various acts and orders that had previously dealt with food issues in various Ministries and Departments.
• The Food Standards and Safety Act of 2006 superseded several Acts and Orders, including the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act of 1954, the Fruit Products Order of 1955, and others.
• The FSSAI is led by a non-executive Chairperson who is appointed by the Central Government and holds or has held a position not lower than that of Secretary to the Government of India. It is not the responsibility of the Director General of Health Services.