The Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration Department will set up counters at tourist spots to create awareness among the public on adulteration of food, Minister for Municipal Administration and Rural Development S.P. Velumani said here on Sunday.
Hailing the benefits of traditional foods, he said the reason behind the longer life expectancy rate of our ancestors was their intake of healthy foods.
Mr. Velumani was speaking at the inauguration of Food Safety Hub, a food safety awareness initiative by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), at Gandhi Park in the city.
B. Vijayalalithambigai, designated officer of FSSAI, said the exhibition was aimed at creating awareness among the public on food safety and adulteration, educating food business operators (FBO) on proper handling of food items, proper disposal of food waste and to make all FBOs complete the licence/registration process with the FSSAI in the district.
With the hub stall located in Gandhi Park, FSSAI will set up five similar counters at Maruthamalai, VOC Park, Brookefields mall, in front of Black Thunder amusement park at Mettupalayam, and Masaniamman temple.
Ms. Vijayalalithambigai added that volunteers from the exhibition would visit hotels and bakeries in the locality and create awareness among them on good manufacturing and hygienic practices.
On Sunday, 41 students from Avinashilingam University for Women volunteered at the exhibition and explained to visitors about the most common adulterants found in food and beverages and detecting them using simple methods at home.
Workers of Integrated Child Development Scheme and members from Self-Help Groups have put up stalls at the exhibition where they sell traditional food items.
On the inaugural day, a medical camp was held for food handlers from various FBOs and they were educated on safe handling of food items. Cultural events have been arranged to attract crowd to the exhibition, which will be held for more than a month.
