Project To Serve Safe Food Expanded to Meghalaya

A Correspondent

SHILLONG: Expanding its “Project Serve Safe Food”, Nestlé India in collaboration with Commissionerate of Food Safety Meghalaya and National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI) launched an initiative in Meghalaya to train 500 street food vendors.

These trainings will take place at Shillong, Cherrapunjee and Tura between September and November 2019.

The project focuses on educating the street food vendors by training them on subjects such as health, hygiene, safe food handling, waste disposal and entrepreneurship. These trainings equip the street food vendors to undertake adequate precautions such as usage of disposable gloves, cart and personal hygiene that prevent the spread of food borne diseases. It also helps in contributing in enhancing livelihood of street food vendors.

AL Hek, Minister of Health & Family Welfare Department, Meghalaya, who spoken on the occasion said, “The need to ensure hygiene of food served by street vendors has become the need of the hour.”

According to Hek, every street food vendor needs to undergo a basic training in food hygiene and safety, as it is the right of every consumer to have access to safe and hygienic food.

The Health Minister also said that the vendors need to provide not only clean utensils and hygienic food, but the positive attitude and the mindset also need to be incorporated by them in their day to day business.

He hoped that with this reformation in place, street vendors can take their business to greater heights.

Stressing on the popularity of street food around the world, Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya, Health & Family Welfare Department, Pravin Bakshi said that the quality of food served attracts the customers to buy from the vendors and as Meghalaya being one of the favourite tourist destinations it comes as a major boost for the vendors to grow their business and serve the best and hygienic food to the tourists.

“Project Serve Safe Food” was launched in 2016 and contributes to enhancing livelihoods of street food vendors by providing training on food safety and hygiene awareness.

Since its inception, over 14,000 street food vendors have received training across 12 states through this programme.

Also Read: Food safety awareness campaign by Lakh

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