How is NIFTEM-K Enhancing Food Safety for Street Vendors?
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Synopsis
In a significant initiative, NIFTEM-K has launched a comprehensive food safety drive aimed at empowering street vendors and enhancing public health. This event not only highlighted the importance of food safety but also showcased innovative tools and practices to ensure a safer food environment.
Key Takeaways
- Food safety education is crucial for street vendors to enhance public health.
- Licensing and legal compliance are essential for the legitimacy of food businesses.
- Hands-on training can significantly improve food safety practices.
- Community engagement is vital for effective food safety outreach.
- Scientific tools like rapid testing kits can empower vendors in ensuring food safety.
New Delhi, June 8 (NationPress) The National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management, Kundli (NIFTEM-K), recognized as an Institute of National Importance under the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, successfully wrapped up a significant two-day event marking World Food Safety Day 2025 over the weekend. The initiative featured various impactful activities aimed at enhancing food safety awareness and fostering scientific discussions.
Themed “Food Safety: Science in Action,” the events highlighted NIFTEM-K’s dedication to creating a safer food ecosystem through grassroots outreach and expert dialogues.
In partnership with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), NIFTEM-K organized an extensive food safety awareness workshop for over 100 street food vendors and small business operators from Delhi NCR and Sonipat.
Facilitated by the Department of Interdisciplinary Science at NIFTEM-K, the workshop enlightened attendees on essential food hygiene practices, such as the significance of personal hygiene and sanitation, safeguarding food from pests, and following safe food handling guidelines.
Vendors were also educated on the importance of acquiring the necessary licenses and adhering to legal regulations to validate their food enterprises.
A standout feature of the workshop was a live demonstration of rapid adulteration testing kits developed by NIFTEM-K for milk and milk products, spices, and tea. At the end of the session, participating vendors received certificates, reinforcing their commitment to maintaining food safety standards and enhancing consumer confidence.
Dr. Harinder Singh Oberoi, Director of NIFTEM-K, underscored the crucial contribution of food vendors to public health and emphasized their duty to provide safe and clean food to the community. He remarked that food safety starts at the grassroots level and encouraged participants to implement best practices in their daily operations.
Mukul Gupta, a National Resource Person from FoSTaC, led interactive training sessions covering a wide array of food safety subjects, from basic handwashing techniques to pest control measures and the rationale behind refrigerated storage.
On June 7, NIFTEM-K hosted an insightful webinar focusing on the pivotal role of science in food safety. During his opening remarks, Dr. Oberoi claimed that science should transcend laboratory boundaries and become a fundamental aspect of public health policies and daily practices. He urged for proactive food safety measures, warning that the next health crisis could be a subtle, foodborne epidemic.
He also called for the integration of food safety principles into school curricula and suggested the creation of stainless steel food carts, affordable rapid testing kits, and advanced research on foodborne pathogens and contaminants.
Dr. Iddya Karunasagar, Advisor at NITTE University, Bengaluru, highlighted the vital elements of risk analysis—assessment, management, and communication—and emphasized that testing alone cannot guarantee food safety without proper practices throughout the food supply chain.
Dr. Rajan Sharma, Joint Director (Research) at ICAR-NDRI, Karnal, introduced rapid detection kits for milk and milk product safety developed at NDRI and underscored the significance of food safety, particularly for perishable items like milk.
Rakesh Kumar, Deputy Director at the Tea Board, addressed the safety issues in tea processing, pointing out how contaminants can infiltrate during production stages and praised NIFTEM-K for its efforts in developing detection kits for pesticides and artificial colors in tea.
Point of View
The initiatives led by NIFTEM-K signify a crucial step towards enhancing public health through improved food safety. Their outreach to street vendors not only underscores the importance of food safety at grassroots levels but also illustrates a proactive approach to prevent potential foodborne health crises.
NationPress
27/07/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the main focus of the NIFTEM-K event?
The main focus was to enhance food safety awareness among street vendors and small business operators, emphasizing their role in public health.
Who collaborated with NIFTEM-K for the workshop?
The workshop was organized in collaboration with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
What did participants learn at the workshop?
Participants learned about essential food hygiene practices, the importance of licenses, and were introduced to rapid adulteration testing kits.
Why is food safety critical for street vendors?
Food safety is critical for street vendors as it ensures public health, builds consumer trust, and adheres to legal standards.
What future initiatives did NIFTEM-K propose?
NIFTEM-K proposed integrating food safety principles into school curricula and developing affordable testing kits for vendors.
