Food Safety On Wheels

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has introduced new schemes to enhance the safety and hygiene of foods by bringing up additional food testing labs. As a part of this, there is an introduction of mobile units called "Food Safety On Wheels." These portable units also create awareness about food safety and hygiene, promote healthy eating habits and support

FSSAI registration

. In addition, food wheels also conduct training and certificate programs for people in the

food business

and surveillance activities in remote areas. In this article, let us see the Food Safety On Wheels initiative of the FSSAI.

Key features

The FSSAI has declared five key features that help enhance our country's food testing system. They are as follows.

Indian Food Laboratory Network connects the entire food laboratory in the country to a centralized Lab Management System. InFoLNet serves as the source for risk analysis, standards improvement, training, and better observation of food products. The field units in charge collect the samples and send them to the FSSAI-notified labs to code and test them, thereby providing solutions to the defects in the foods. This would be taken into consideration and would be established to control food imports.
Food Safety On Wheels is moving vehicles arranged by the FSSAI to supervise the food products in different areas around the country. They are used to educate the public and give awareness about the hygiene of foods. They have laboratories equipped with testing facilities, and their uses are as follows.
It quickly tests and detects the presence of common contaminants in foods
It is used to spread awareness of food safety and hygiene
It conducts training and certificate programs for people involved in the food business

FSSAI provides one mobile unit to each state or union territory to monitor the food hygiene and the employees' personal hygiene. Some states that have been provided mobile units are Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Jharkhand, Jammu & Kashmir, Kerala, Manipur, Meghalaya, and Nagaland.

The labs that come under the State Food Testing Labs should be strengthened in all the 45 State food labs by providing them with state-of-art, high-end food testing equipment, including microbiology labs.
The testing laboratories use a tool called DART (Detecting Adulterants with Rapid Testing), enabling them to identify the presence of food contaminants quickly. This test is a compilation of simple tests put together to spot the inappropriate ingredients that are added to the foods. Doing this can be an effective tool for Food Business Operators and a ready-home guide for consumers that helps prevent adulteration.
FSSAI has appointed Junior Analyst Examination on top of the Food Analyst Examination to attend to severe issues about food analysis in our country. With a team like this, it is possible to provide good services to the food industry and the regulatory system.

Back to Learn

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Food Safety on Wheels Initiative by FSSAI India.

The Food Safety on Wheels initiative aims to enhance food safety and hygiene awareness by providing mobile units equipped with testing facilities. These units conduct on-site testing for common food contaminants, promote healthy eating habits, provide training and certification programs for food business operators, and support FSSAI registration in remote areas.

The Food Safety on Wheels initiative benefits consumers by ensuring the safety and quality of food products through on-site testing and detection of contaminants. Additionally, it creates awareness about food safety and hygiene practices, promoting healthy eating habits and empowering consumers to make informed choices.

The key features of the FSSAI's food testing system include the Indian Food Laboratory Network (InFoLNet), which connects all food laboratories in the country to a centralized Lab Management System. Field units collect samples and send them to FSSAI-notified labs for testing, and the results are used for risk analysis, standards improvement, and better monitoring of food products.

The FSSAI plans to strengthen all 45 State Food Testing Labs by providing them with state-of-the-art, high-end food testing equipment, including microbiology labs. This ensures that the laboratories have the necessary resources and capabilities to conduct accurate and reliable food testing.

The DART (Detecting Adulterants with Rapid Testing) tool is a compilation of simple tests that enable food testing laboratories to quickly identify the presence of food contaminants and adulterants. This tool serves as an effective resource for Food Business Operators and consumers to prevent and detect food adulteration.

The FSSAI has introduced the Junior Analyst Examination in addition to the Food Analyst Examination to address the shortage of qualified food analysts in the country. This initiative aims to build a team of trained professionals who can provide effective services to the food industry and regulatory system.

According to the article, some of the states that have been provided with mobile units under the Food Safety on Wheels initiative include Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Jharkhand, Jammu & Kashmir, Kerala, Manipur, Meghalaya, and Nagaland.

The Indian Food Laboratory Network (InFoLNet) connects all food laboratories in the country to a centralized Lab Management System. It serves as a source for risk analysis, standards improvement, training, and better monitoring of food products, enabling a more integrated and efficient food testing system.

The Food Safety on Wheels initiative supports FSSAI registration by providing mobile units that can reach remote areas and assist Food Business Operators in obtaining the necessary registrations and licenses. These units also offer training and certification programs to ensure compliance with food safety regulations.

The introduction of the Junior Analyst Examination by the FSSAI aims to address the shortage of qualified food analysts in the country. By building a team of trained professionals, the FSSAI can provide better services to the food industry and regulatory system, ensuring more effective food safety monitoring and compliance.