The Food Safety Administration, Kohima Zone, under the Department of Health & Family Welfare, has concluded its Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) initiative on “Food Safety Awareness Program at Village Level” in Tseminyu district.
The programme was conducted from April 10 to 18 and covered eight villages under its jurisdiction. The Kohima Zone currently covers six districts: Kohima, Wokha, Phek, Tseminyu, Kiphire and Meluri.
The awareness drive aimed to educate villagers on basic food safety practices at home and as consumers outside. The programme began with an introductory note by Food Safety officials, followed by a PowerPoint presentation by Food Technician Smt. Kenyumi Himb, who delivered the session in the local dialect for the benefit of participants.
Villagers were informed about safe cooking, safe storage and safe eating practices, reading labels before purchasing food items, the dangers of reusing cooking oil, buying non-labelled and non-FSSAI registered or licensed food products, and the risks of using newspapers as food wraps.
They were also educated on food fortification of common items such as rice, oil, salt, wheat flour and milk, identified by the +F logo, including awareness on fortified rice to address myths surrounding plastic rice.
The programme also featured live demonstrations on adulteration in common food items such as tea leaves, milk powder, honey and chilli powder, along with visual samples of fortified rice by the Food Safety on Wheels team.
The villages covered were Zisunyu, Tseminyu, Ngvuphen, Nsunyu, Chunlikha, K. Station (Kandiniu), New Terogvunyu and Henbenji. Over 230 participants attended the programmes held at village council halls and were provided aprons.
The initiative was conducted under the supervision of Designated Officer Shri Kezhangulie Yimchunger, along with two Food Safety Officers and the Food Safety on Wheels team of Kohima Zone.
