Promote fortified wheat, rice, salt & oil; Advisor Dr Kotwal chairs meeting on Safe Food & Healthy Diets

Leh, July 13: The State Level Advisory Committee meeting on Safe Food and Healthy Diets was chaired by Advisor Ladakh Dr. Pawan Kotwal at Civil Secretariat.

Commissioner Secretary Health and Medical Education Dr. Vasanthakumar Namasivayam apprised the chair of the works under process and those being taken up to create a healthy and safe food environment in Ladakh.

The meeting discussed at length the kinds of food items that have been tested and the advisor expressed his satisfaction over the results which were found to be as per set standards. He further urged the department to ensure picking up more random samples at frequent intervals so that people consume substandard and harmful items at no cost.

Considering the practice of drying vegetables and other items to be consumed especially during the winter months, the committee members suggested testing dried food items too, so that their safety can be ensured for the people.

Advisor Ladakh highlighted the need to keep a serious check on the distribution of fortified wheat and rice and directed the team to take random samples frequently and to take necessary action against the distributors who don’t comply with the given guidelines. He further added that fortified salts must also be ensured, especially in schools and at Anganwadi centres.

Introducing fortified oils in the market was also discussed, where Advisor Dr Kotwal added that the authenticity of the fortification-certified brands available in the market must be tested from time to time.

The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary SED Sanjeev Khirwar,  ADGP Ladakh Dr. S.D. Singh Jamwal, Commissioner Secretary Social & Tribal Welfare Padma Angmo, Secretary FCS/CA Yetindara M. Maralkar, and other concerned officers