Quality, hygiene to be part of platter before Games

Safe Food, Tasty Food scheme: Guidelines for small restaurants and dhabas to upgrade standard
Delhi is set to ensure that the one ingredient, hygiene, missing from some of city eateries that offer delicious food, is added in time for the Commonwealth Games.
The Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) recently launched its ‘Safe Food, Tasty Food’ scheme that has specific guidelines for small restaurants and dhabas to upgrade their standard of food to international level.

The scheme, launched on Monday, will rate food joints as platinum, gold, silver and bronze, which will be accredited by the Quality Council of India (QCI) after strict scrutiny of different parameters like quality of food, hygiene, service among others.

Under the scheme, which was in the pipeline for over a year, dhaba and restaurant owners can file a request for registration with FSSAI.

For the eateries owners it will mean that the Delhi government, QCI and the FSSAI will advertise the food joints and mention them on their websites as hygienic joints thus bringing in more customers.

The guidelines have a say in all things related to the food, from the time the ingredients are procured till the time food is served. The ingredients need to be bought only from licensed sellers, frozen food must maintain a certain standard of temperature and safe drinking water has to be available at all times. All guidelines are available on FSSAI and QCI websites.

“The scheme will work both ways. It will ensure clean and hygienic food for customers and dhabas will get a bigger crowd of patrons,” says Giridhar J Giani, secretary general, QCI.

The scheme will also seek help from New Delhi Municipal Council, Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Resident Welfare Associations, colleges and registered societies, which will act like the watch dog.

“They will form the nodal agency that can keep a check by demanding quality food and a proof of certification, there by keeping a pressure on quality service,” Giani adds.

The scheme though under FSSAI, is a joint effort by the Delhi Tourism, ITDC, CII, QCI and FICCI etc. If the pilot project in Delhi is successful, the scheme will be launched in cities.