Food safety is a shared responsibility, public awareness is key: FSSAI

Food safety is a shared responsibility and must be formed with public awareness said government officials while also stressing the need to tackle food myths and promote food literacyAt an event held in the national capital on World Food Day 2025 policymakers industry leaders food scientists and academia addressed the urgent need for sciencebacked food education in an era dominated by conflicting narratives and digital misinformationldquoFood safety is a shared responsibility that extends beyond regulatory frameworks to public awareness We welcome initiatives that use scientific discourse to clear misconceptions and promote responsible food choicesrdquo said Satyen Kumar Panda ED Regulatory Compliance and Advisor Quality Assurance FSSAIldquoCollaboration among academia industry and government is key to sustaining a culture of food safety and nutritional integrityrdquo he addedThe event was hosted in partnership with the National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management NIFTEMKundli and the Institute of Hotel Management Catering and Nutrition IHMDelhiThe programme included panel discussions aimed at correcting misconceptions around palm oil A1A2 ghee protein supplements and processed foodsA central highlight was the announcement of an upcoming International Food ampamp Beverage Alliance IFBA report aimed at debunking persistent myths surrounding palm oilThe report will present evidencebased insights into palm oilrsquos role in nutrition sustainability and food manufacturing with the goal of supporting more informed consumer choices and policy decisionsldquoIn todayrsquos fastpaced world processed foods offer unmatched convenience be it readytoeat meals frozen snacks or canned foods helping individuals manage their time and nutritional needs effectively However despite the sectorrsquos vital contribution to food safety and accessibility public perception is often influenced by misinformation and mediadriven mythsrdquo said Avinash Joshi Secretary Ministry of Food Processing IndustriesKeeping in view of this the Ministry has recently come out with a publication of FAQs on processed foods with special focus on ultraprocessed foods UPFshighfat salt and sugar HFSS foods to help disseminate sciencebased knowledge and evidence on the subjectThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever