Kerala has once again claimed the top spot in the State Food Safety Index (SFSI) 2024, a comprehensive report that evaluates food safety standards across India’s states and union territories. Released at the Second Edition of the Global Food Regulators Summit 2024, this marks Kerala’s second consecutive year at the top of the list. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) designed the index to measure states’ performance across five critical food safety parameters.
What’s Behind Kerala’s Success?
Kerala’s consistent food safety measures, including food safety inspections, sample testing, and prosecution of violations, contributed to this achievement. The state’s Food Safety Commissioner Afsana Parveen received the award from Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda at the summit, where Kerala’s success was highlighted as the result of robust food safety enforcement.
In 2022, Kerala had ranked second, but continuous improvements saw it secure the top position in 2023 and maintain it in 2024.
How Does the Food Safety Index Work?
The State Food Safety Index assesses states based on five essential factors:
Human Resources and Institutional Data
Compliance
Food Testing – Infrastructure and Surveillance
Training and Capacity Building
Consumer Empowerment
These parameters provide a thorough and objective evaluation of food safety ecosystems across India. This year, Tamil Nadu, Jammu & Kashmir, and Gujarat followed Kerala in second, third, and fourth positions, respectively.
Special Recognition for Nagaland
Nagaland was given special acknowledgment in the SFSI 2024 for its significant progress in improving food safety. This recognition highlights how smaller states can make notable steps in ensuring safer food for their citizens.
Kerala’s Food Safety Drives: The Key to Consistent Wins
Kerala’s Health Minister Veena George attributed the state’s success to more than 40 food safety initiatives, including:
Operation Shawarma (targeting street food vendors)
Operation Matsya (focusing on fish safety)
Operation Jaggery (ensuring sugar quality)
Operation Holiday (inspecting tourist destinations)
All these initiatives have been coordinated under a broader campaign called Operation Life since 2024.
Tamil Nadu Bounces Back
In 2022, Tamil Nadu slipped to the third position, but in 2024 it reclaimed second place, marking a return to form. The competition between Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Gujarat has been fierce, with each state competing for the top spot over the years. Gujarat, which had topped the index in 2021, took fourth place in 2024.
Why Food Safety Is More Important Than Ever
At the Global Food Regulators Summit 2024, Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda stressed the rising importance of food safety in the face of global challenges like foodborne illnesses, novel foods, and microplastics. He emphasized that food regulators play a critical role in addressing these issues, calling for greater collaboration and innovation to improve food safety systems.
Nadda also highlighted the FSSAI’s efforts to keep India’s food safety standards aligned with international benchmarks, such as those set by Codex Alimentarius. This ensures that India stays competitive in global trade while maintaining high domestic food safety standards.
India’s Efforts to Strengthen Global Food Safety
India is working on several fronts to improve its food safety system. For instance, the National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) 2.0 is being developed to tackle antibiotic resistance. Additionally, India is updating its Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for pesticides to comply with international standards, helping to boost the country’s global trade standing.
Nadda also pointed out that Bhutan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka are benefiting from India’s efforts to strengthen food regulatory frameworks in the region.
The Importance of Safe, Nutritious Food
Union Food Minister Pralhad Joshi spoke at the event, emphasizing that food security goes beyond quantity—it’s about ensuring that the food we consume is safe and nutritious. He highlighted several key initiatives like the Eat Right Campaign, the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, and the promotion of millets, all aimed at promoting safe, high-quality food for all Indians.
Millets Importance
The summit also underscored the increasing focus on millets, known as Shree Anna. A new recipe show, Flavours of Shree Anna – Sehat aur Swaad Ke Sang, was launched to promote millet-based recipes and raise awareness about their health benefits. This is part of India’s larger effort to promote sustainable nutrition and tackle the twin challenges of malnutrition and food security. Millets is also a drought and climate change resistant crop and is also less likely to be attacked by pests and all.
The Way Forward for Food Safety
The State Food Safety Index has been important in encouraging states to adopt better food safety practices since its launch in 2019. The index helps in healthy competition, pushing states and union territories to improve their food safety infrastructure and enforcement. As we move forward, India’s commitment to improving food safety will be crucial in addressing the evolving challenges of global food production and consumption.
Kerala’s Commitment to Food Safety Sets the Benchmark
Kerala’s continued leadership in the State Food Safety Index demonstrates the state’s dedication to ensuring its residents have access to safe, high-quality food. Through ongoing initiatives and strong government support, Kerala has set the benchmark for other states to follow. With rising awareness of food safety issues globally, states like Kerala are showing that active measures can lead to meaningful, measurable progress.
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