FSSAI, in partnership with the National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI), Delhi State Food Safety Department, NDMC, IGNCA (Ministry of Culture) and Tasting India Symposium, is organizing the ‘First National Eat Right Mela’ on 14-16th December 2018 at IGNCA, India Gate, New Delhi.NASVI will also organise Tenth National Street Food Festival as part of the ‘Eat Right Mela’ since as street food plays a significant part of food culture in our country. Also, food is recognised as an essential part for our health and wellbeing so FSSAI had earlier launched the ‘Eat Right India’ movement because death and disease from unsafe food and poor diets exceed that from TB, Malaria and HIV/AIDs took together.
The ‘Street Food Festival,’ which has blossomed into a sustainable signature event of Delhi, has been organised by NASVI since the past 10 years. The Street Food Festival celebrates the diversity and flavours of Indian street food and is showcased by around 500 street food vendors from all parts of the country. As it is now integrated with the ‘Eat Right Mela’ it will promote safe and healthy eating through various engaging activities besides showcasing food culture from around the country.
The ‘Eat Right India’ movement is an initiative of the FSSAI which is aimed at mass mobilization of both supply-side and demand-side interventions to change the way India eats. As part of the initiative, FSSAI has already launched the ‘Swasth Bharat Yatra which is perhaps the world’s largest and longest public outreach programme of its kind. It has been launched with the aim of engaging with people in the remotest parts of the country on safe food and healthy diets.
The First National Eat Right Mela is also being organised as a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, on the occasion of the 150th year of his birth anniversary. The Mahatma believed that real change only happens through mass mobilization. So besides ‘Swasth Bharat Yatra’, the FSSAI has also launched the ‘Eat Right Creativity Challenge’ to engage young and creative people in making posters, wall art and digital creative(s) and the ‘Eat Right Awards’ to recognise and reward food businesses that demonstrate their commitment to the movement.
The Pavilion would also have themes like “Gandhiji, Food and Nutrition” which would make people aware of Gandhiji’s food habits and his thoughts on food and nutrition. Gandhiji had experimented a lot with his diet and his views on food and nutrition would find contemporary relevance as we struggle with the right kind of diet today. Other themes include “FSSAI: Changing the Way India Eats”, “Test Your Food”, “Flavours of India” (thalis of India, temple food and more) and “Organic Food Bazar”.
This three-day Mela would provide a complete food experience for the entire family; an opportunity to know everything one needs to know about safe food and healthy diets, including quick tests for adulterants, health, and nutrition benefits of different types of food, dietary advice by experts and more. It would allow citizens to engage in dialogues and conversations with food visionaries and experts such as Chef Sanjeev Kapoor, Dr. Shikha Sharma, Prof. Pushpesh Pant, relish delicious street food, sample diverse flavours from across the country, watch live ‘healthy cooking’ demonstrations by celebrity chefs such as Chef Manjit Gilland Chef Rakesh Sethi, and enjoy live music, dance and theatre performances.
Other events that will be organised as part of the First National Eat Right Mela are on-the-spot poster competition, release of food-related books, National Gastronomic Tourism workshop in collaboration with Tasting India Symposium and Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India are other highlights of the ‘Mela’. An Indo-Nordic Food Policy workshop focused on the learning of Nordic countries on the reduction of trans fats and salt in the diet, menu labeling, healthy and sustainable diets, is also a part of this Mela. The FSSAI and the Nordic Food Policy Lab will come together to share unique knowledge workshop and this will bring an international flavour to the event. Sourish Bhattacharyya and Sanjoo Malhotra, Founder Directors, Tasting India Symposium, believe that the Eat Right Movement of the FSSAI is a public health intervention model that the world can learn a lot from.
Since physical activities go hand in hand with healthy eating, cycling, a run and yoga are also being organised on the days of the ‘Mela’. For the activity calendar and more, visit www.fssai.gov.in/eatrightmela. The ‘Mela’ is a first of its kind but is likely to become an annual event and would get bigger and better each year. It is also expected to be replicated in at least 40 major cities including state capitals across the country through State governments. Eventually, this Mela would become a one-stop-shop for people to know about safe, healthy and local foods, and enjoy the rich culinary heritage of our country. The FSSAI hopes that this public outreach, through celebration and entertainment would encourage all citizens, in every part of the country to become aware of and adopt safe and healthy eating habits.
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