Shillong, May 04:  “Food Safety on Wheels”, a Mobile Food Testing Laboratory, was launched on Friday at Health Complex, Laitumkhrah, Shillong. The vehicle which costs around 37 lakh is entirely funded by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, which will also bear the maintenance cost of Rs. 5 lakh per year during the scheme.

The mobile food testing van was flag off by the Meghalaya Health and Family Welfare Minister, Shri A.L.Hek,  in the present of Shri. P.W Ingty, Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Shri Pravin Bakshi, Secretary, Health and  Family Welfare, Dr. T. Wahlang, DHS (MI), Dr.(Mrs). B. Mawlong, DHS (MCH & FW), Dr. T.S Nongkhlaw, DHS (R), Shri. S.N Sangma, Joint Commissioner of Food Safety and Smti. D.B.S Mukhim, Assistant Commissioner of Food Safety.

The Mobile Food Testing Laboratory, under The Commissionerate of Food Safety, stationed at Shillong, will also help in reaching out to street food vending, catering, retail and distribution, storage and transport, manufacturing, bakery, sellers of meat, fish, etc, milk and milk products in the unorganized food business sectors.

The food safety on wheels will also act as a platform for conducting awareness programmes and imparting training for consumers, food business operators, school children, besides transporting of food samples from remote areas to the Food Testing Laboratories.