FSSAI announces the Eat Right Challenge – An Annual Competition for the States

New Delhi, August , 2020: The ‘Eat Right India’ movement initiated by FSSAI under the aegis of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, has gone a long way in creating awareness amongst the people about eating safe, healthy and sustainably. Adding another milestone in this direction, FSSAI has recently announced the Eat Right Challenge, an annual competition for the Districts and Cities in a unique way to strengthen the food safety and regulatory environment, build awareness among the consumers and urge them to make better food choices.

Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Hon’ble Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare addressed the registered Districts and Cities, today, during an online orientation workshop organised by the Food Authority. The Hon’ble Minister released the ‘Eat Right Handbook’, a useful reference guide for the Food Safety Commissioners and district officials such as District Magistrates and Designated Officers to adopt and scale-up Eat Right India (ERI) initiatives in their respective jurisdictions. The handbook provides ready information, resources and success stories about various ERI initiatives. The Hon’ble Minister also launched the new Eat Right India website (http:// https://eatrightindia.gov.in/) that covers information on various ERI initiatives, placed under proper heads (for easy navigation) with enhanced features, sharp look & feel and better accessibility. The new website also showcases a citizen section to get healthy tips, recipes and expert speaks on food-related matters. Shri Ashwini Kumar Choubey, the Hon’ble Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare also graced the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Harsh Vardhan complemented FSSAI for its out-of-the-box thinking to reach out to almost all sections of society in its efforts to provide safe and healthy food to the citizens through this unique challenge. Further, the Hon’ble Minister highlighted “The Eat Right Challenge will surely help in strengthening our food ecosystem; bringing the thrust for self-compliance in food businesses by building their capacities, thereby, transforming the food environment with safe, healthy and sustainable diets to all. This challenge will be led by the Designated Officers (DOs) under the guidance of the State Food Safety Commissioners/ District Magistrates (DMs) and will prove beneficial in broadening the reach of registration/licensing, enforcement and surveillance efforts at the States level, among other core regulatory activities of FSSAI”. He lauded efforts of FSSAI for supporting first 150 cities & districts, financially with a seed funding of Rs. 5 lakhs on first cum basis. He further urged everyone to come out with innovative ideas/ models to promote Eat Right initiatives in their respective areas and compete for additional funding of Rs 5 lakhs from FSSAI as part of this challenge.

Shri Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Hon’ble Ministry of State for Health and Family Welfare highlighted that “The Eat Right Challenge is a commendable way for FSSAI to recognize the work done by its State counterparts in ensuring food safety. This annual activity will help States/UTs learn from each other and motivate to do better”. Highlighting the age-old wisdom of traditional Ayurveda and right eating practices, Hon’ble Minister of State further mentioned that the Eat Right India tells people that safe and right food in a sustainable manner is helpful for both people as well as the planet. Such large-scale engagement activities at the States level ensure that our food safety departments fulfil their responsibilities and work more dynamically to live upto the expectations of our citizens.

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