Good response to ‘Eat right millet’ mela

HYDERABAD: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Hyderabad, organised an ‘Eat Right’ millet mela, to a good response here on Sunday.

The endeavour was to highlight the importance of eating millets as 2023 has been declared as the ‘International Year of Millets’ (IYoM).

As part of the event, a cyclethon, featuring 50K, 25K, 10K and 5K distances, was conducted in association with Hyderabad Bicycling Club. It was flagged off by FSSAI CEO G. Kamala Vardhana Rao at 7 am, who also inaugurated the mela at NAC grounds in Cyberabad.

Rao said consumption of millet-based foods could be traced to ancient times.

"When we look at the consumption profile of millets, we find that 12 per cent of it goes as animal feed, 8-10 per cent towards FMCG products and less than 10 per cent goes for alcohol production," he said.

Deputy director FSSAI Abhay Tangade gave details about the evolution of the ‘Eat Right India’ movement, which has ushered in a 'new food culture' in the country whereby people are eating safe, healthy and sustainable items.