The Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) awarded Eat Right Station certification to 150 railway stations across India on Thursday. The Eat Right Station is a part of the Eat Right India initiative, which intends to ensure safe, hygienic, healthy, and nutritious food choices for passengers.

The Health Ministry said in a statement that the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)’s Eat Right Station initiative is making significant strides in ensuring access to safe and healthy food within these bustling hubs.

To date, 150 railway stations across the nation are certified as Eat Right Stations. The procedure for the Eat Right Stations certification entails strict standards such as rigorous audits of food vendors, training of food handlers, adherence to strict hygiene and sanitation protocols, and actions to raise attention.

Six pioneering metro stations across the country have also joined the initiative and are recognized as Eat Right Stations, which include the Noida Sector 51, Esplanade (Kolkata ), Botanical Garden (Noida), IIT Kanpur and Noida Electronic City Metro Station.

The Health Ministry said that this Eat Right Station initiative not only benefits passengers but also empowers food vendors at railway stations. By adhering to food safety and hygiene standards, they gain credibility and attract more customers, ultimately boosting their livelihood.

The Ministry also said that the FSSAI perpetrated further extending the Eat Right Station programme. The intent is to encompass all major railway and metro stations. Throughout their journey, every passenger regardless of their destination can relish safe and healthy food. This initiative pledges to contribute enormously to facilitating a healthier India. 

In January 2023, the Varanasi Railway Station acquired a 5-star Eat Right Station certification, which indicates the station’s complete adherence to safe and hygienic food practices and providing high-quality, nutritious food to the passengers. The other railway stations that were awarded star certification include Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (Mumbai), Vadodara Railway Station, Mumbai Railway Station (Mumbai), Chandigarh Railway Station, and Bhopal Railway Station.

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Lavanya Beeraboina/MSM)