Report

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has awarded the “Eat Right Station” certification to ten railway stations in the Pune division. This certification is part of the larger Eat Right India campaign, which FSSAI leads to ensure food safety and cleanliness in public spaces, particularly at railway stations.

Promoting Safe and Clean Food Choices

According to an media reports, the ten certified stations include Pune, Kolhapur, Miraj, Sangli, Satara, Daund, Ahilyanagar, Kopargaon, Sainagar-Shirdi, and Shivajinagar. These stations have met FSSAI’s rigorous standards, which involve comprehensive training and evaluations to ensure compliance with top food safety regulations. The certification applies to various food establishments at these stations, from organized units like restaurants and food courts to smaller vendors, kiosks, and retail shops.

Suresh Annapure, Joint Commissioner of the Food and Drugs Administration (Food) in Pune, explained, “To earn the certification, all food vendors and handlers at these stations completed training under FSSAI’s Food Safety Training and Certification (FoSTaC) program. A third-party evaluation, based on a checklist of food safety standards, is required for certification.”

Part of the Eat Right India Initiative

The “Eat Right Station” certification is a key element of FSSAI’s Eat Right India initiative, launched in New Delhi. The program aims to strengthen food safety and hygiene standards across public spaces nationwide. Through this initiative, FSSAI trains food vendors on safe cooking and food handling practices, ensuring that railway passengers and staff access safe and healthy food.

Officials attribute the initiative’s success in the region to Rajesh Narvekar, the FDA Commissioner of Maharashtra, whose leadership has been instrumental in promoting the program.

Setting a Benchmark for Quality Meals

The certification sets a new benchmark for food safety in railway stations across India, encouraging other stations to adopt similar standards. Travellers passing through these certified stations can now enjoy meals that meet stringent safety and quality criteria, enhancing their overall journey experience.

Source: Times Now