State food panel chief urges reduction of salt and oil intake

Bal Mukand Sharma, Chairman of the Punjab State Food Commission, on Friday appealed to everyone to reduce their daily intake of salt by one gram and oil by 10 grams. He made the appeal while addressing students and staff of IK Gujral Punjab Technical University during a function held on the campus to mark World Food Day on Thursday.

Sharma urged, “Start this from today,” emphasising that this small step would not only improve health but also help tackle food shortages and reduce imports, thereby boosting the national economy.

He added that the Punjab government is promoting the establishment of nurseries in schools, colleges and universities to raise awareness among students about food safety. MLA Amritpal Singh Sukhanand from Bagha Purana constituency, who is also an alumnus of the university, attended the event as a special guest.

Sukhanand highlighted the critical role of food, stating, “Food is life and not just a health issue but also an economic concern. This day reminds us of our responsibility to ensure no one goes hungry and that everyone has access to safe, nutritious and adequate food. It also underscores the vital connection between water, agriculture and life. The Punjab government’s success in addressing food safety depends heavily on youth involvement, making it the responsibility of every young person to actively participate in this cause.”

The event was organised under the leadership of the university’s vice-chancellor Dr Sushil Mittal, who congratulated everyone on World Food Day and shared his views on its significance and ongoing efforts. Registrar Dr Navdeepak Sandhu delivered the welcome address, stressing the importance of the topic and the urgency for action.

Renowned food safety experts also attended and spoke at the ceremony, including Preeti Chawla (member, Punjab State Food Commission), Vijay Dutt (author), Ravneet Kaur (Director, Food and Drug Laboratory), Satyendra Singh (CEO, TBI – IISER Mohali) and Dr Mohit Kumar (Scientist, NABI, Mohali). Prior to the event, the university conducted various competitions among students on topics related to World Food Day. All winners were honoured by the guest panel during the closing of the ceremony.