(a) the number of food collection organisations that are operational under Indian Food Sharing Alliance (IFSA);
(b) the number of volunteers working for the IFSA;
(c) the number of people/households that received food under the initiative in the current financial year;
(d) the number of beneficiaries of the initiative that live in rural areas as a percentage of the total beneficiaries; and
(e) whether the Government has any plans to increase the scope of the IFSA to include household donations?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
(DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)
(a): Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has informed that there are 82 food collection organizations operational under Indian Food Sharing Alliance (IFSA). It is a platform being facilitated by FSSAI to encourage distribution of surplus food under Food Safety and Standards (Recovery and Distribution of Surplus Food) Regulations, 2019 to prevent food wastage.
(b) to (d): IFSA is a voluntary alliance. FSSAI does not maintain data of volunteers working for IFSA or the number of beneficiaries of this initiative.
(e): Only Food Business Operators and Surplus Food Distribution Agencies collecting surplus food from the food businesses are covered in the scope of Food Safety and Standards (Recovery and Distribution of Surplus Food) Regulations, 2019. Household donations are not included under these Regulations.
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