The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has conducted a meeting with leading flight caterers and airlines on January 16, 2024. The primary agenda of the meeting was to assess and enhance the existing food safety protocols, ensuring the provision of safe and high-quality inflight meals to passengers. A press release on the meeting was issued on January 17, 2024.
Recognizing a common concern regarding the lack of readily available information for passengers about inflight food, the CEO of FSSAI directed all flight caterers and airlines to strictly comply with the relevant provisions of the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020. This directive aims to improve transparency by necessitating detailed information about the nature, origin, and manufacturing details of the food served during flights. Emphasis was laid on menu labeling as a powerful tool to inform passengers, enabling them to make informed choices.
During the meeting, the significance of swift and effective handling of consumer grievances was also highlighted. Airline caterers were urged to establish robust mechanisms for prompt resolution, including corrective and preventive actions to minimize food safety-related incidents. The CEO highlighted the crucial role of the industry in ensuring the safety and satisfaction of passengers.
A notable focus of the discussion was the emphasis on specialized training programs for catering staff. The aim is to ensure a comprehensive understanding of food safety and hygiene practices, aligning with FSSAI’s commitment to maintaining the highest standards within the airline catering industry.
The collaborative efforts between FSSAI, flight caterers, and airlines are poised to enhance the overall safety and quality of inflight dining experiences for passengers across the country. The industry’s commitment to these standards is expected to reassure passengers and contribute to an elevated level of trust in airline catering services.
