Quality and hygiene of food have always been considered the top priority in any food industry because it gets associated with the wellbeing of a human being. Therefore, the government takes special measures to maintain food quality, as, in India, an FSSAI (Food Safety and Standard Authority of India) license is issued to all the manufacturers, traders, and restaurants that carry food business. Without this Fourteen-digit license number, the company runs the risk of claiming the food as hygienic to its consumers.
But how much effective is FSSAI or for that matter any food license for ensuring the safety of food intake? Can the government take enough preventive, timely need measures to ensure health and hygiene? Let’s see below with the help of the following pointers.
Strict Rules and Regulations for Street Food After COVID-19
COVID-19 has paved significant changes in each and every industry starting from the job sector to the health sector. Though this disease has etched its mark in the bleakest histories of mankind, there are some positive learnings that one gathered from this pandemic. The knowledge of hygiene that was hitherto stunted and not taken into serious consideration has improved with the incorporation of sanitization facilities and regulated washing of hands, so as to prevent infections and food-borne diseases.
With the population boom and popularity of e-commerce, there has been a rising demand surplus due to which countries like India face challenges. Therefore, with the manual handling of every product, a gap in the implementation of vocational courses, a lack of skilled laborers, and primitive technological equipment, it becomes very difficult to maintain food hygiene and meet nutritional standards. Thus, arrives the importance of using AI (Artificial Intelligence) in the Food Industry.
Use of AI in the Food Industry- Pros and Cons
Life has become easier with the coming of Artificial Intelligence. Though it’s the brainchild of the superior species of this planet, it comes with a lot more accuracy at the same time maintaining its optimum speed than humankind. And, what can be greater if not using AI effectively to meet challenges that remain humanly ineffective?
According to an NDTV news article, the Indian government plans to use AI in the food processing industry in the near future, to reduce hassle for farmers, at the same time ensuring their increase in wages and reducing the environmental impact. The use of Artificial Intelligence ensures quality control, improving crop yields by using high technology sensors, that is precision agriculture and supply chain management.
However, the implementation of AI without proper planning and a road map can be equally problematic. According to a research article published by the University of Cambridge, the AI system which is considered as the next-level solution in the field of agriculture, comes with its own limitations. For instance, its promise to deliver large output in minimum time, overlooks the environmental consequences, as in soil erosion. Overuse of pesticides can wreak havoc in the ecosystems as well as excessive usage of nitrogen fertilizers can lead to soil and water pollution. Even there runs the risk of cyber-attacks which might shut down sprayers, autonomous drones, and robotic harvesters, leading to disruption of work in managing commercial fields.
Another problem gets located, where there might be a huge divide between those who will be able to optimize the technology of automation to the fullest and those who lack the knowledge to use it. So merely, implementing AI without proper training programs will serve as a loss to countries like India, where poverty and illiteracy, run as the major hindrance to progress. Even, proper implementation and thinking about the long-run damages caused by AI should be kept in mind to avoid environmental hazards.
From Unhygienic Food to Unsafe Food – A Loop of Cases in India in 2024
Food is such a sensitive matter, that even a simple blog or a Twitter post can lead to thousands of trolling. Therefore, even the smallest mistake can account for a humongous issue in no time.
For example, Pani Puri and Shawarmas are the most lovable street foods in India. But the recent reports of people falling ill after their consumption, the food safety authorities of Karnataka ran raids to have a safety check on the Shawarma eateries. The results were alarming as only a fraction of 9 out of 17 samples, collected from Bangalore, Mysore and Mangalore (three cities of Karnataka) passed the safety checks. The rest of the sample contained traces of bacteria and yeast, that have occurred due to improper handling and storage of the same.
Following this, Pani Puri was also labeled as unhygienic food not only because of its use of artificial colors but also because of cancer-causing elements. The use of food color in chicken kebabs and fish dishes has been put into a total discontinuation by the Karnataka government. Though the steps implemented by the Karnataka government serve as an example, where it has warned consumers to check the eateries licensed by FSSAI and put a ban on food color, there is a long way to go, especially after the number of weird cases which got reported in various parts of India.
According to a report made by TOI, starting from January to June of this year, six to seven different cases were reported where dead animals were found in food packets. Beginning with a dead mouse in a veg meal of BBQ Nation in Worli, Mumbai to a live worm in a Dairy Milk chocolate packet which got reported in Hyderabad, then from centipede in Amul Ice-cream (a case of Noida), to a dead mouse in Hershley’s chocolate syrup and even to fried frog found in Balaji Wafers in Jamnagar, Gujarat, these cases became rampant throughout the nation.
Apart from these series of dead animals being found in packaged food or food in restaurants, a metal blade was found in an Air India meal to be as horrendous as a human finger being traced in a Yummo Ice cream (a case of Malad, Mumbai).
Similar cases were reported from 2018-2019 in Thailand, where a dead lizard was found in a pack of Irvins Salted Egg. There were reported multiple similar cases in the products of that company, after which the CEO of the Singapore Snack Company apologized publicly. Even five-six years after this incident, India is facing similar incidents that are alarming the entire society and instilling fear within the consumers’ minds, whether it is at all feasible to buy, let it go to eat food from outside, or packaged food.
This mental setback will impact the food industry if proper implementation is not taken in due time. Now, the question remains is it possible to ensure safety and quality in a country that is meeting an ever-increasing demand and that too manually? But again, without the proper implementation of AI technology, the food industry will then be left open to face numerous challenges that will have far-reaching impacts on both societal segregation and the biosphere, apart from other hindrances.
Will the government be able to take action to prevent such cases? Will they be able to properly implement Artificial Intelligence for the better handling of the same?
What is your opinion about the same? Let us know what you feel in the comments section below. If you have an opinion to share, feel free to reach out to us at larra@globalindiannetwork.com.
