New Delhi, Oct. 16 : Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit flagged off a run and walkathon on the occasion of World Food Day on Friday.

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) is commemorating the World Food Day with the theme--India prepares for Commonwealth Games 2010.

Over 2,000 people from various walks of life including schoolchildren, National Cadet Core (NCC) cadets, Army persons, senior citizens and others participated in the walkathon at India Gate.

Besides, many schoolchildren also performed in a dance programme.

Speaking on the occasion, Sheila Dikshit expressed concern over manufacturing of saturated food.

"Saturated food is being manufactured and sold. But if the consumers are made aware, they will resist it and we will succeed," said Dikshit.

World Food Day is celebrated every year around the world on October 16 when the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations was founded in 1945.

Offering hygienic and quality food would be one of the key constituents in making India a perfect host for Commonwealth Games 2010.

To further this endeavour, CII intends to educate food vendors and consumers alike on the need for the same and is actively looking at setting quality, health and hygiene standards for eateries and restaurants.

A combination of the food crisis and the global economic downturn has pushed more than a billion people into hunger in 2009, U. N. agencies said on Wednesday and confirmed a grim forecast released earlier this year.

India is home to more than 230 million undernourished people, more than any other country. While the proportion of malnourished has fallen, the absolute numbers are rising with the population. (ANI)