Synopsis
As per the United Nations Environment Programme Food Waste Index Report 2024, India's food wastage is significantly lower than the global average. The FSSAI implements initiatives to combat waste, including the Indian Food Sharing Alliance, promoting surplus food donation.Key Takeaways
- India's food wastage is 55 kg/capita/year.
- The global average is 79 kg/capita/year.
- FSSAI drives initiatives like “Save Food Share Food”.
- Indian Food Sharing Alliance (IFSA) includes 82 agencies.
- States are encouraged to promote food waste awareness in schools.
New Delhi, March 13 (NationPress) According to the United Nations Environment Programme Food Waste Index Report 2024, the projected food wastage in India for the year 2022 stands at 55 kg/capita/year, which is notably lower than the global average of 79 kg/capita/year, as indicated by official statistics.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has implemented various initiatives to tackle food wastage, including the “Save Food Share Food” Initiative aimed at encouraging the donation of surplus food from industries, particularly food caterers.
Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, B.L. Verma, mentioned that to address the limited reach of surplus food distribution agencies, a comprehensive network of these agencies has been established under the Indian Food Sharing Alliance (IFSA).
“Currently, 82 agencies are registered under IFSA, extending their reach to more than 90 cities. A dedicated website facilitates food sharing, offering a city-wise directory of IFSA members and resources on food waste prevention,” Verma stated.
He further noted that the Central government periodically advises states and Union Territories to incorporate a chapter on food wastage prevention into school curricula, aiming to raise awareness among young learners about the importance of reducing food waste.
The FSSAI publishes the State Food Safety Index (SFSI) on an annual basis, which assesses the overall performance of states and UTs across various food safety parameters.
This index measures state performance on criteria such as compliance, consumer empowerment, training and capacity building, food testing facilities, and surveillance.
States like Kerala (score: 63), Punjab (57.5), Tamil Nadu (56.5), Madhya Pradesh (56), Uttar Pradesh (52.5), and Gujarat (48.5) have emerged as top performers in the Index Rankings.
Among Union Territories, J&K and Delhi also rank high with scores of 59.5 and 49.5 respectively.
However, the Ministry clarifies that scores assigned to States/UTs in various SFSIs should not be compared directly to evaluate and capture the challenges and advancements made by different states/UTs, as the parameters are subject to change and updates.
