Medical fraternity receives training on food safety & healthy diets

A master training workshop was conducted at the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Headquarters, Delhi, for IMA Standing Committee and the master trainers from various State chapters towards ensuring safe and healthy diets for all citizens. The training focused on the FSS Act, 2006 , food safety emergency response system, various Eat Right India initiatives such as Eat Right campus, FOSTAC, Eat Right Toolkit, and fortification. Since the medical fraternity connects with the people on a day-to-day basis and better understands their eating behaviors and associated problems, discussions about safe, healthy and sustainable diets are timely and appropriate.

Dr JA Jayalal, national president, IMA, during his opening remarks, stated that this master training program would provide a strong foundation for taking forth various Eat Right India-related activities across State chapters. He reiterated the commitment of IMA towards public health and the need for behavioral change to ensure this in the long run.

During his keynote address, Arun Singhal, chief executive officer, FSSAI, appreciated the Indian Medical Association for extending support to the Eat Right India initiatives. Elaborating on their role, he further stressed the need to extend this network across the country where IMA can support forming new chapters across cities and facilitate dissemination of the right messaging among patients and their extended community. He further highlighted that food safety is a shared responsibility, and the Government and City administration cannot ensure this alone. Food safety thus is a mass campaign where the role of doctors and civil society is equally important to influence people to make the right food choices.