The Food Safety Mokokchung Zone conducted awareness camps at Changki village and Mopungchuket village on April 21 and 22, focusing on safe and fortified food, reuse of cooking oil, good manufacturing practices, and sensitisation of food business operators.
The programmes were held at the respective village council halls and attended by village authorities, students, youth representatives, women groups, self-help groups, Anganwadi workers, and food business operators.
Samuel Zehol, Designated Officer, Food Safety, Mokokchung Zone, highlighted the responsibilities of food business operators regarding mandatory FSSAI registration and licences for their establishments. He also stressed the need to comply with hygiene and sanitation standards and to ensure that employees at manufacturing units and fast food outlets possess valid medical fitness certificates issued by registered medical practitioners.
Zehol underlined the importance of fortified food in improving public health and nutritional standards. He also warned against the repeated use of cooking oil, stating that reheating oil multiple times can generate harmful chemicals that may lead to serious health problems.
The issue of unlabelled and misbranded food products being sold in the market was also discussed. Village authorities were urged to maintain strict vigilance within their jurisdictions to prevent such practices. Participants were informed that complaints related to food products may be reported to the Designated Officer, Food Safety, Mokokchung Zone, under the office of the Chief Medical Officer, Mokokchung.
Food Technicians N Hamche Phom and Maongbenla Jamir of Food Safety on Wheels, Mokokchung, also demonstrated methods to detect common food adulterants in various food items.