Early Times Report
JAMMU, June 7: In a meeting convened at office of "We the Human - Forum for Nature and Mankind" under chairmanship of K Y S Manhas, the first World Food Safety Day was commemorated.
Speaking on the occasion, S. Prem Singh, founder member of the trust informed that the first-ever World Food Safety Day, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2018, is being celebrated today on 7 June, under the theme "Food Safety, Everyone's Business" to draw attention and inspire action to help prevent, detect and manage foodborne risks, contributing to food security, human health, economic prosperity, agriculture, market access, tourism & sustainable development.
It is a stated fact that health is wealth, so any person who cares for his wellbeing will not want to go to any eatery shop or restaurant which is unhygienic. Despite of this, it remains a fact, today, that due to lack of awareness and slackness shown by the Food Safety Officers, many old famous eateries especially barbeque/ cooked non vegetarian food shops and bakeries are being run from unhygienic dingy and unclean narrow shops/ booths. And, being very old, these shops are thronged by local people to satisfy their taste buds.
K Y S Manhas, retired Principal Secretary Law said that in unhygienic eateries people are prone to get contacted with diseases like typhoid, pneumonia etc. which will have ill effect on their health. Health experts say that a study has found that the roadside food contains impurities leading to the growth of tapeworm inside the stomach. He further said that despite a ban, fruit and vegetable suppliers, vendors and retailers are still selling fruits and vegetables with stickers on them. The Food Safety Officers need to take action against such malpractices including artificial ripening of fruits especially mangoes, papaya and bananas using hazardous & impermissible chemicals and procedures. During summer, in many areas of Jammu, excessive sprays of Insecticides/ pesticides are done on vegetables grown by farmers. Such vegetables, reaching various markets all over the state, have poisonous residues and unsafe to consume.
According to Prof Harun Naik, the senior Food Technologist of J&K, food safety has a critical role in assuring that food stays safe at every stage of the food chain from production to harvest, processing, storage, distribution, all the way to preparation and consumption. The Governments must ensure safe and nutritious food for all.
Among others, those present in the meeting were veterans S. Prem Singh, O P Verma, Sahib Aggarwal Advocate, Mohinder Kumar, B D Chowdhury, Inder Parihar, Shiv Raina, Anil Gupta and Pavitra Pant. |
