Food safety and healthy diets are critical in the context of India’s high burden of foodborne diseases, under-nutrition deficiencies and growing incidence of obesity and non-communicable diseases. Alarmed by the rise of such diseases, “Eat Right India” movement was launched by Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) on 10th July 2018, under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India. The Eat Right Movement is built on two broad pillars of ‘Eat Healthy’ and ‘Eat Safe’.
Drawing inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi’s Salt March, FSSAI launched a national campaign “Swasth Bharat Yatra” on 16th October 2018 on occasion of the World Food Day. ‘Swasth Bharat Yatra’ was a pan-India Cyclothon, held across 350 locations across the country for connecting 1.33 billion people to promote the message of safe and wholesome food in the country.
Swasth Bharat Yatra Highlights:
- The Swasth Bharat Yatra was flagged off on 16th October, 2018 from six different locations which are Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala), Puducherry, Leh (Jammu & Kashmir), Ranchi (Jharkhand), Panaji (Goa), & Agartala (Tripura), covering almost all states & Union Territories.
- Spread around 100 days over 7,500 volunteer cyclists covered 2,000+ locations and conducted in-city and en-route activities and ‘Prabhat Pheris’ to propagate the message of Eat Right India.
- The convoy comprised of a team of 150 ‘Volunteer-Cyclists’ who covered 50-60 kilometres daily, halting at 2-3 towns and cities on the way. The convoy also included an ‘Eat Right Mobile Unit’ and a ‘Mobile Food Testing Unit’. Volunteer Cyclists would hand over the symbolic relay baton to the next batch at the stopover points and return.
- The last batch of cyclists converged in New Delhi on 27th January 2019 concluding the Yatra in the first phase of the Eat Right India movement.
Participation of IMP:
Industrial Metal Powders (I) Pvt. Ltd. is one of the leading manufacturers of food grade Electrolytic Iron Powder in the world for fortification. Since the ‘Eat Right India’ Movement and ‘Swasth Bharat Yatra’ is all about promoting healthy and safe eating, IMP did participate in the event when it reached Pune on 8th November 2018. IMP is supporting FSSAI & Govt. of India to fight against iron deficiency anemia to make “Anemia Mukt Bharat” (Anemia Free India).
During its participation in the event, IMP exhibited the different alternatives that can help in reducing iron deficiency Anemia. IMP presented two of its most cost-efficient and easy to use products; Electrolytic Iron Powder and Lucky Shakti Leaf/ Iron Fish that are clinically proven to reduce iron deficiency anemia. These products are recognized by numerous countries across the world for their proven benefits in reduction of iron deficiency and anemia.
The food grade Electrolytic Iron Powder is used for the fortification of staple food items like wheat flour and Maida to enhance the nutritional value. It is a recommended product for food fortification under FSSAI guidelines. Lucky Shakti Leaf/Iron Fish is the most cost-efficient method to reduce iron deficiency anemia. Individuals can easily add the leaf in their daily food products through boiled water, soup, curry, dal, etc.
Conclusion:
The Eat Right India movement, particularly the Swasth Bharat Yatra has been instrumental in galvanizing the food safety ecosystem in all States. To make a “Healthy India”, it is important to spread awareness about the importance of eating safe, healthy and nutritious food.
