To help passengers to make a healthy and right food choice, Indian Railways launched a movement “Eat Right Station” which was a part of the ‘Eat Right India’ movement launched in 2018 by the FSSAI. Under this movement, Mumbai Central Station of W.Rly is the country’s first “Eat Right Station” as certified by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). With this unique achievement, Western Railway has once again got the distinction of being pioneer in this field too, alongwith various other important achievements.
According to a press release issued by Shri Ravinder Bhakar – Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway, Mumbai Central station has been judged on the basis of compliance of food safety and hygiene, availability of healthy diet, food handling at preparation, transshipment & retail/ serving point, food waste management, promotion of local & seasonal food and creating awareness on food safety and healthy diet. Mumbai Railway station has been conferred with “Eat Right Station” certification with 4 Stars rating by FSSAI on 29th November 2019.
The food quality regulator (FSSAI) along with Western Railways (WR) and Indian Railways Catering Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), trained food handlers, both in canteens and base kitchens. They inspected catering establishments at the station and certified & rated the standard of food. The focus of the movement is on improving the health and well-being of people by ensuring they eat healthy. ‘Eat Right India’ movement is built on two broad pillars of ‘Eat Healthy’ and ‘Eat Safe’. It aims to engage, excite and enable citizens to improve their health and well-being.
Led by FSSAI, it is a collective effort to make both the demand and supply-side interventions through the engagement of key stakeholders. On the demand side, it focuses on social and behavioural change among citizens and nudging citizens towards making the right food choice. On the supply side, it focuses on nudging the food businesses to reformulate their products, provide better nutritional information to consumers and make investments in healthy food as responsible food businesses. It includes maintaining hygiene and sanitation, proper waste disposal and following safe food practices.