New Delhi: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) convened its 45th Central Advisory Committee (CAC) meeting today, focusing on heightened food safety measures across popular tourist destinations as the peak season from November to March approaches. States and Union Territories (UTs) were urged to strengthen surveillance and ensure stringent safety standards to protect both domestic and international tourists.
G Kamala Vardhana Rao, CEO of FSSAI, emphasized the need for robust monitoring at tourist hotspots and recommended deploying the Food Safety on Wheels Mobile Labs at key locations. He urged Food Commissioners from various states to increase vigilance over warehouses and facilities used by e-commerce platforms, especially those handling food products. As part of this effort, the CEO also suggested issuing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for warehouses and delivery personnel to maintain consistency and safety in food handling.
To ensure thorough monitoring, States and UTs were advised to increase surveillance sampling and make extensive use of Food Safety on Wheels mobile vans. The meeting also stressed the importance of training Food Business Operators (FBOs) under the Food Safety Training and Certification (FoSTaC) program. FSSAI aims to train 25 lakh food handlers, including those in university, college, and hostel canteens, by March 2026 to elevate food hygiene and safety standards nationwide.
An integrated approach to food safety was a key theme of the meeting, with FSSAI urging collaborative efforts among related ministries, stakeholders, and state-level advisory committees. Additionally, as part of the Eat Right India movement, States were encouraged to amplify food safety awareness among consumers through outreach initiatives such as fairs, walkathons, and street plays (Nukkad Nataks).
The meeting saw participation from over 60 officials, including Commissioners of Food Safety, senior FSSAI officials, and representatives from the food industry, consumer groups, agriculture, laboratories, and research bodies. This collective focus on food safety aligns with FSSAI’s mission to ensure a safe and healthy experience for tourists and citizens alike during the bustling travel season.