Food Safety Index

What is the SFSI?

• Developed by the FASSI the index aims to measure the performance of the states and union territories on the selected parameters of food safety.
• According to the FSSAI, the Index is aimed at encouraging the states and UTs to improve their performance and work towards establishing a proper food safety ecosystem in their jurisdiction.
• The SFSI is released annually for a financial year. the latest SFSI was released on world food safety day, June 7 for the fascial 2021-22.
• This is the fourth edition of the inspection since 2018-19.

Food Safety parameters

Human resources and institutional data

• This carries the weightage of 20 per cent and measures the availability of human resources like The number of food safety officers,
• Designated officer's facility of adjudications and
• Appellate tribunals,
• Functioning of state or District level steering committees,
• The pendency of cases their monitoring and
• Participation in the Central Advisory Committee meetings of the food authority.

Compliance 

• This carrier is the highest weightage, 30 per cent this is the most important parameter.
• Measures overall coverage of the food business in licensing and registration commensurate with the size and population of the state or UTs special divers and campus organised, yearly increase, promptness and effectiveness in the issue of state licenses or registrations the FSSAI says.
• Promptness in attending to consumer grievances and availability of a help desk and web portals also come under this parameter.

Food Testing 

Infrastructure and Surveillance

Training and Capacity Building 

Consumer Empowerment

• This carries a weightage of 20 per cent.
• It evaluates the states and UTs on their performance on various consumer empowering initiatives of FSSAI, such as participation in Food Fortification, Eat Right Campus, and BHOG (Blissful Hygienic Offering to God), Hygiene Rating of Restaurants, Clean Street Food Hubs, etc.
• Besides the states' initiatives for creating consumer awareness are also considered under this parameter.

How are the states and UTs assessed?

• The states and Union Territories are not assessed and ranked together. 
• They are segregated into three categories large states, small states and UTs and assessed separately within their respective categories, based on their performance on the selected food safety parameters.
• "The assessment and evaluation of each category are done by separate teams comprising of outside experts for food testing and food and nutrition professionals in addition to FSSAI officials," the FSSAI says.
• These expert teams examine details received from the states and UTs.
• They also interact with the states or UTs through videoconferencing for verification and confirmation of data.

How have the states and UTs performed this year?

• In the category of the 20 largest states, Tamil Nadu with an overall score of 82 out of 100 has performed the best and has been ranked 1st on SFSI 2021-22.
• Andhra Pradesh with an overall score of 26 has been ranked at the bottom 17th place.
• Gujarat ranked 2nd with a score of 77.5,
• Maharashtra ranked 3rd with 70,
• Himachal Pradesh ranked 4th with 65.5
• West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh share 5th rank with a score of 58.5.
• Among the eight small states, Goa with a score of 56 has been ranked at the top.
• Arunachal Pradesh ranked 8th and scored 21 at the bottom.
• Among the Eight Union Territories, Jammu and Kashmir with a score of 68.5 have been ranked 1st and Lakshadweep score 16 at the bottom.