Amir Iqbal Khan
Bhadarwah, 26-Nov:The Department of Food Safety DFCO Doda led by Taraq Ahmad Butt, Assistant Commissioner, Food Safety DFCO along with team including Javed Iqbal Bangroo, Food safety Officer convened an interactive workshop with Bakers Association Doda on Saturday. The initiative was carried out as per directions of Commissionerate, FDA J&K with the support of District Administration Doda in the interest of Consumer Safety.
During the sessions of the workshop, know how was imparted to the Food Bussiness Operators under FSSA apart from enunciating rules and regulations and more importantly the agendas were discussed at length including timely renewal of the licences/registrations(Online) to avoid inconvenience. The team emphasized the FBOs to submit Annual returns well in time and the manufacturers were apprised to get their documents mandatorilyt modified in Food Categories.
The Bussiness Operators were further advised to get bi annual water test reports and product test reports which is most significant for making the industry safe and qaulitative and for those manufacturers who are excelling at par shall maintain in house laboratory for Oil, Water, Milk testifications etc.Taking the sessions ahead to the Consumers Safety, all the Food Bussiness Operators were directed to upload the Renewal of Risk Based Certifications.
Pertinently, the Department imparted and explored General awareness regarding packaging and labelling of the products ,making display of the date of manufacturing and best before for consumer Safety and moreover, it was stressed to keep Hygienic practices at the topic priority both in their workshops and the sale counters.
Expressing concern over the usage of Baking powder and colors, the Enforcement Officers of the Department Delivered lectures to avoid Backing powder above prescribed limits and desist from using unpermitted colours which are carcinogenic and lead to Health hazards.
During the hours of the workshop, the President liaqat Indrabi expressed his satisfaction with the guidelines enumerated in the interactive session and showed commitment to adhere to the guidelines under the Act.
To make the session more innovative, the Enforcement Officers of the Department enlightened the features of Eat Right India which is underway under the Aegis of FSSAI.
As a part of the Eat Right Movement, Food Businesses have been directed to promote healthier Food Options in Several ways including phasing out of Trans fats in Food products to make the Nation Transfat free by 2022, to make reformulations of Food products to reduce contents of sugar and salt in packaged Food and to make introduction of menu labelling on Nutrition information and finally to gear up promotion of healthier Food options.
At the end, all the Backers were made aware of Hygiene Rating and checklist was elaborated with the directions to keep the requisite documents ready for Audit assessment of Hygiene Rating.
