First Lady Sajidha Mohamed has stated that food safety is an indicator of a nation's level of development. She made these remarks at the official ceremony held at F. Nilandhoo to mark the World Food Safety Day.
At the ceremony, the First Lady unveiled the logo of the Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA) and extended greetings on the occasion of World Food Safety Day.
In her address, the First Lady noted that food safety goes beyond the health of a people, adding that a high level of food safety in a nation is indicative of the high level of development enjoyed by its community. She said that it also reveals the level of discipline and positive habits within a nation, and that true food safety is connected to national awareness and the level of civility among its people.
Reflecting on this year’s theme, “From Burden to Solutions: Safe Food Everywhere,” she noted that it underscores the link between food safety and the health and well-being of every citizen. She noted that lifestyle habits are formed during childhood through upbringing, strengthened through education, and subsequently shaped by the community.
She applauded the regulations and guidelines being formulated by the Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA) under the Food Safety Act, expressing confidence that they would strengthen food safety standards. She acknowledged the limitations on large-scale food production and exports posed by the country's geographic composition. However, she noted that technological advancements have enabled the production of fisheries products and the cultivation of certain crops at the household level. She added that these efforts are further supported by the service launched today through the oneGov portal to register businesses involved in small scale food production. This service was inaugurated by the Member of Parliament for Nilandhoo Constituency, Fathimath Saudha.
At the ceremony, Minister of Health, Family and Welfare Geela Ali officially launched “Samaavaru”, a programme aimed at familiarising food service providers with food safety practices.
The First Lady received a warm welcome from the residents of Nilandhoo upon her arrival to participate in the ceremony.
