Key Takeaways
- NIFTEM-K organized a two-day event for World Food Safety Day 2025, focusing on food safety awareness and scientific engagement.
- Workshops included hands-on training for over 100 street food vendors on hygiene and safety practices.
- A webinar emphasized the need for science in food safety, urging the inclusion of food safety principles in education and public health policy.
Strengthening Food Safety Awareness
The National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management, Kundli (NIFTEM-K), marked World Food Safety Day 2025 with a series of initiatives under the theme “Food Safety: Science in Action.” Collaborating with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), NIFTEM-K conducted a comprehensive workshop on June 6 for over 100 street food vendors and small business operators from Delhi NCR and Sonipat. Participants learned essential hygiene practices and were trained on safe food handling and compliance with statutory regulations. Highlights included live demonstrations of rapid adulteration testing kits for milk, spices, and tea, concluding with certificates awarded to attendees.
Dr. Harinder Singh Oberoi, Director of NIFTEM-K, emphasized the vital role vendors play in public health through his concepts of “Thoda Kam” and “Eat Right.” He encouraged attendees to adopt best practices in food preparation and discussed potential training partnerships with FSSAI to enhance vendor processes, aiming to create role models within the community. Furthermore, interactive sessions led by experts covered crucial topics like personal hygiene, pest control, and food storage.
On June 7, a webinar was held to underscore the importance of science in food safety. Dr. Oberoi highlighted the necessity of integrating scientific approaches into food safety initiatives to prevent foodborne crises. He proposed the creation of affordable, modern food carts and rapid testing kits, and advocated for establishing a Centre for Food Safety and Authenticity at NIFTEM-K.
The webinar featured experts like Dr. Iddya Karunasagar, who discussed risk analysis in food safety, while Dr. Rajan Sharma presented advancements in rapid detection kits. Discussions also addressed allergens, vitamin safety, and contamination risks in tea processing, highlighting NIFTEM-K’s role in developing related safety technologies.
The event culminated in a collective call to prioritize food safety within national policies, education, and research efforts. NIFTEM-K reaffirmed its leadership in fostering innovation, awareness, and capacity building to ensure a safer food environment for consumers across India.
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