For the second consecutive year, Kerala has retained its number one ranking in the State Food Safety Index (SFSI) 2024, highlighting its leadership in food safety. The annual ranking, published by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), evaluates the performance of Indian states and union territories in terms of food safety.

Kerala’s consistent high placement reflects the state’s commitment to public health through stringent food safety practices, modern infrastructure, and robust surveillance systems.

The Report

According to the FSSAI website, “This index is based on the performance of states/UTs across five significant parameters: Human Resources and Institutional Data, Compliance, Food Testing — Infrastructure and Surveillance, Training & Capacity Building, and Consumer Empowerment. The Index is a dynamic quantitative and qualitative benchmarking model that provides an objective framework for evaluating food safety across all states and UTs.”

Bottom Line

Veena George, the health minister of Kerala, celebrated this accomplishment in a Facebook post, stating, “Kerala achieves a historic milestone in food security at the national level. Kerala holds the first position for the second consecutive year in the Food Security Index.”

source: The New Indian Express