<span style="color: #222222;">In a significant achievement, Jammu and Kashmir has maintained its first rank in the Union Territory (UT) category in Food Safety Index 2022-23. The Department of Food and Drugs Administration J&K has received the award third time in a row for 2021, 2022, and 2023.<br />''</span><br />''The index is released annually by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to measure the performance of states and UTs on various parameters of food safety.<br />''<br />''The award was received by Food Safety Commissioner Shakeel-ul-Rehman from Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, in the presence of Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar and Professor Satya Pal Singh Baghel, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Chairman FSSAI, Rajesh Bhushan and CEO FSSAI, G. Kamala Vardhana Rao.<br />''<br />''Jammu and Kashmir also won first prize for having the maximum number of Eat Right Mela districts in the country. These districts have implemented various initiatives of FSSAI to promote healthy and safe food habits among consumers. This reflects the commitment and dedication of the UT administration and the public towards ensuring food safety and hygiene in Jammu and Kashmir.<br />''<br />''<span style="color: #222222;">The Food Safety Index is a dynamic quantitative and qualitative benchmarking model that provides an objective framework for evaluating food safety across all States and UTs. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India began the State Food Safety Index evaluation process for 2022-2023 by undertaking correspondence with Food Safety Commissioners of all UTs/States to furnish the data for statistical evaluation. The critical indicator on the basis of which evaluation is done included Human Resources, Compliance Levels, Food Testing Infrastructure and Surveillance, Training, and Capacity Building besides Consumer Empowerment.</span><br />