Food Joints' hygiene rating.

Must confess that I never knew such a rating existed and am glad, it does. Gujarat tops while Tamilnadu comes second.

Gujarat tops the list of food establishments that have been given the highest number of hygiene certificates in 2021 - '22., followed by Tamilnadu, according to the FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) that has awarded over 18,000 such rating certificates till March, this year. This certification is a must for food businesses before commencement.

FSSAI is a statutory body for laying down scientific standards for articles of food and regulating the manufacturing, processing, distribution, sale and import. More and more food establishments like restaurants, cafeterias, bakeries, sweet shops and meat retail shops in India are coming forward to get the ratings as it helps drawing customers to their joints.

In 2020, 1,837 such establishments were awarded the certificates, while in 2018, the figure stood at 867.

Moreover, officials said, smaller food business operators (FBO), such as dhabhas, food trucks and even mid-day meal kitchens are being covered under the HRS (Hygiene Rating Scheme), which was first initiated in Dec 2018 in Maharashtra on a pilot basis and was later launched across the country.

Till March this year, 16,059 food establishments got the coveted rating. In Gujarat, the figure stood at 4,340 followed by 2,532 such food joints in Tamilnadu. Haryana stood third with 2,210 establishments getting the rating.

In Karnataka, 973 such food establishments were part of the scheme. While in Kerala, 114 food joints got the certificates, in Telangana, only 47 food establishments went for the scheme.

This score encourages businesses to ensure hygiene standards and empowers consumers to make an informed choice when they eat out.

Hygiene rating is a user friendly, technology driven scheme under which food serving establishments are rated on their hygiene and food safety compliance with a score from 5, which is the highest rating, to 1, which is the lowest. The number of such food establishments obtaining hygiene rating certificates is increasing steadily.

- Kavita Bajeli-Datt

My take

India is slowly waking up to the necessity of providing hygienic food to its citizens. It's a welcome change! The quintessential fact is to "eat safe".

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by 10.

Fixed up my lectures - in connection with the Vaayana Maasam - for the next week at the schools around Thalavoor.