Monday, December 16, 2019

Nestlé India launches Project ‘Serve Safe Food’ in Nepal

Nestlé India has launched Project Serve Safe Food in Nepal in partnership with the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control, Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI). Approximately 500 street food vendors will be trained under the projecton food safety and hygiene in Nepal, according to the company. “The project was first piloted in 2016 in India, where over a period of 4 years, some 20,000 street food vendors were trained across 17 locations.”
Project Serve Safe Food focuses on educating and training street food vendors on health, hygiene, safe food handling, waste disposal, and entrepreneurship. These trainings will equip the street food vendors to undertake measures such as usage of disposable gloves and personal hygiene that prevent the spread of foodborne diseases, the company claims.
“Eating clean, safe and healthy food is of utmost importance for people,” director general at the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control Dr Matina JoshiVaidhya said speaking on the occasion. “Our street food vendors play a very crucial role in safe delivery of food to consumers,” he said, adding that therefore empowering the street food vendors with knowledge and skills will go a long way in our commitment towards food safety.
“Nepal is a popular tourist destination and street food vending is an important source of employment for the local population,” chief executive officer at the NTB said, on the occasion. “The initiative undertaken by Nestlé India for upskilling street food vendors becomes very important in the wake of Visit Nepal 2020, organised by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation for promoting tourism in the region,” he said, adding that he is sure that Project Serve Safe Food will aid in developing and strengthening the food safety infrastructure in Nepal.
“Skilling our street food vendor is an important initiative that we will be undertaking in Nepal,” senior director at the board Hikmat Singh said, adding that it will enable the street food vendors to learn about food safety and hygiene. “We are excited about Nestlé India, launching project serve safe food in Nepal.”
“In line with Nestlé's purpose of enhancing quality of life and contributing to a healthier future, we are delighted to launch Project Serve Safe Food in Nepal in collaboration with the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control, Nepal Tourism Board and NASVI,” director of the Corporate Affairs at Nestlé India Sanjay Khajuria said, adding that the company has seen that the training programmes have brought about positivebehavior change and encouraged our street food vendors to take food safety and food hygieneseriously. “Clean and safe food brings in more customers, improves the livelihood of the vendors, which in turn helps build confidence of the vendors in their business.”
“Increasing awareness about safe, healthy and hygienic food is of paramount importance,” head of Street Food Programme at NASVI Sangeeta Singh said, adding that they have developed training materials, which will equip the street food vendors to improve food safety. “We are excited about our partnership with all the stakeholders to meet this important objective.”

No comments: