FSSAI Pink Book – Guide for Safe and Nutritious Food At Home

FSSAI have launched the Pink Book as a guide to provide safe and nutritious food in every household. The book comprises of eight sections which includes Selecting and purchasing food, Storing food, Preparing and cooking food, Healthy eating, Packaging food, Maintaining hygiene & sanitation. The Pink Book is prepared by a team of experienced nutritionists, food technologists from all over the country. This book will take care of the nutrition and in turn long term health of the citizens.

Guidelines for safe and nutritious eating are listed below: –

1. Always buy fruits and vegetables which are seasonal and free from dark patches and notches on the skin. In case of citrus fruits, choose juicy and succulent ones, which are heavy for their size.
2. Buy Fish with gills that are intact, bright and pink in colour. The fishes we buy must have clear eyes and flesh that bounces back when pressed with a finger.
3. Always buy Meat that has pink flesh and lean meat with less cartilage and bone. If purchasing pre-cut or packaged meat, check the temperature of the chilled storage unit. Check that the ‘Best before’ date has not lapsed.
4. Prefer buying pasteurized packaged milk from the market. Please check the best before dates on packages of curd and cheese.
5. While buying frozen foods, make sure that the product must have the date of expiry mentioned on it and always thaw the quantity desired to consume.
6. One must buy packaged bottles and containers with uniform colour.
7. As a smart consumer on must look on the label for the veg logo, Fortification sign, and FSSAI license no. prior to purchase. Few of the logos are mentioned as below in

8. The consumer must realize the importance of the label of any product and must use the information on label to eat healthy.

9. All consumers must make healthy choices by buying whole grains and cereals, use two or more types of fats and oils for cooking.
10. Keep in mind the storage requirements for different products. For e.g. storing banana and cereal products at room temperatures and fresh vegetable, milk and egg in refrigerators.
11. Always wash raw fruits and vegetables thoroughly prior to cooking.
12. Store vegetarian and non-vegetarian products separately as they may cross contaminate.
13. Do not serve food in plastics and newspapers.
14. Always follow food pyramid to way as guide to healthy balanced food. The following figure is showing food pyramid for a complete and balanced diet.
15. Materials safe for microwave are glass and ceramic, microwavable plastics. Only use those products where there is a label of “microwave safe” on the containers.
16. There are lot of information on healthy eating and exercise to stay healthy and fit.

These general guidelines by FSSAI pink book is a complete guide for all the consumers as a way to healthy and safe eating. It includes all the parameters required for a consumer to make right choices from farm to fork.

References:-

1. FSSAI Pink Book-Guide for safe and nutritious food at home.pdf. Available at: https://fssai.gov.in/home/capacity-building/iec/awareness-materials.html. Accessible on: 18.05.2019