Lack of awareness and the spirit of questioning has led to poor quality food products being sold to customers in the country, Pralhad Joshi, MP, has said.
He was inaugurating an awareness programme on ‘Food safety and quality' organised jointly by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) and the Quality Council of India (QCI) in Hubli on Friday.
“Lack of awareness has led to customers, both rich and poor, being duped. The attitude of accepting everything without questioning is also the reason for the increase in instances of adulteration of food items,” he said.
Referring to the proposed Bill on food security, he said there were many questions on the methodology used for identifying below the poverty line (BPL) families.
President of the Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that shortly the KCCI would be setting up a separate cell to address issues concerning food and food processing industries.
Food processing industries should be sensitised on issues of food safety and quality, he said.
Adviser to the QCI Shobha Hegde said the QCI was now targeting tier-II and tier-III cities for creating awareness on issues concerning food safety.
Focus
In his introductory remarks, ASSOCHAM Regional Director D.V. Giri said that over the years focus had shifted from adulteration to food safety in food processing industries.
Consultant T. Appaji Rao, Deputy Director of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India M.S. Karak and Ms. Hegde delivered lectures on various issues of food safety and quality during the technical sessions.
