A webinar on Food safety standards in Agri and allied sectors has been conducted on 21.10.2024 (Monday) from 10.00 A.M to 01.00 P.M

A webinar on Food safety standards in Agri and allied sectors has been conducted on 21.10.2024 (Monday) from 10. 00A.M to 01.00P.M. The first and most important reason to follow food safety standards is to protect workers and customers. Whenever food products are produced, there is a significant risk to the employees and customers health. This is because contaminated or infected food can cause significant problems such as foodborne illnesses, which food production organizations should aim to prevent. Whenever there’s an outbreak of foodborne illnesses, organizations deemed responsible may get into deep trouble. Aside from having to cover the expenses of all those who have gotten infected, there are also legal repercussions to consider if there was a contamination caused by a lack of adherence to safety standards. Additionally, these standards add transparency, traceability, and accountability to the organization’s operations. So, they are critical for smooth and responsible operations. In operating the food industry, follow all relevant food safety standards to prevent illnesses that arise due to a lack of food safety practices. Food safety and modernization act is transforming the nation’s food safety system by shifting the focus enacted from responding to foodborne illnesses to preventing it. Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) has been in response to dramatic changes in the global food system and in understanding of foodborne illness and its consequences, including the realization that preventable foodborne illness is both a significant public health problem and a threat to the economic well-being of the food system. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has framed several rules to implement Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), recognizing that ensuring the safety of the food supply is a shared responsibility among many different points in the global supply chain for both human and animal food. The Food Safety Modernisation Act (FSMA) rules are designed to make clear specific actions that must be taken at each of these points to prevent contamination. The webinar on Food safety and standards in Agri and allied sectors was organized with the objective of creating awareness on food safety standards, making participants to understand antibiotics residues in food chain and apply organic regulations in food chain management. During the inaugural and programme Dr. M. Jagan Mohan Reddy, Director, Extension Education Institute has addressed the participants and sensitized about the webinar and its importance. While speaking on the occasion Dr. Reddy has expressed that, ensuring safety of food is important and the same has been reiterated through ‘One health” during G-20 summit. Food safety is also important for health, health care system, support tourism leading to sustainable development. There are ways to keep up food safety at individual and organizational level too. Now a days lot of situations are known for contaminating food and has been depicted through print and electronic media. At individual level care has to be taken in handling and using the fruits and vegetables by keeping in view of the aspect of pesticide residues on them. All the stakeholders in supply and value chain of food system should be sensitized to honor the protocols towards maintenance of Food safety standards in Agriculture &Allied sectors. He further requested all the participants to organize brain storming sessions group discussions, training programmes etc., at village level for various stake holders to empower them on food safety standards in Agri and Allied Sectors and usage of optimum dosage of inputs. The two speakers of the webinar namely Sri Balu Naik Kethavath, Dy.Director (Technical), FSSAI, Hyderabad and Dr. S. C. Barnirajan, Asst. Director and Central Designated officer, Southern Region, FSSAI, Chennai have delivered topics on “Food Safety Standards and Regulations and “Pesticide and Antibiotic Residues in Food Chain and Organic regulations respectively. The participant officers from client departments of Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Husbandry representing the states of Kerala, Odisha, Karnataka and Telangana have participated in the Webinar. A total of 37 officers took part in the programme. The participants were presented the cases reflecting food safety issues in their jurisdiction followed by the discussions with experts. The programme was coordinated by Dr.K.Madhu Babu, Professor of the institute, he has requested all the participants to come up with outcome of the application of learned knowledge at back home after a period of time. The webinar was concluded with formal vote of thanks by Dr. K. Madhu Babu.