“The aim of this project is to encourage safe and healthy practices to reduce food-borne illnesses and improve overall health outcomes. The initiative is being taken up as a pilot project to create an example for best practices for food businesses,” an official statement informed on Monday.
Each food street will be provided Rs 1 crore as financial assistance.
Such food streets will also generate local employment opportunities, improve tourism potential and boost the economy.
The initiative will be implemented through the National Health Mission (NHM) in convergence with the Union ministry of housing and urban affairs and with technical support from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
“The project envisages 100 such food streets in 100 districts across the country. Assistance will be provided under NHM in the ratio of 60:40 or 90:10, with a rider that standard branding of these food streets will be done in accordance with the FSSAI guidelines,” the statement said.
Training of food handlers, independent third-party audits and certification of Eat Right Street Food Hubs, and developing a standard procedure for modernisation of food streets would be carried out.
States and Union Territories can also conduct training programmes for street vendors on food safety, maintenance of hygiene and waste disposal.
