World Food Safety Day, observed on June 7th each year, aims to draw attention to and inspire actions to prevent, detect, and manage foodborne risks. Ensuring food safety is crucial for maintaining health and well-being, as unsafe food can lead to various illnesses and, in severe cases, death. The day underscores the importance of stringent food safety measures across the entire supply chain, from farm to table. It also highlights the collective responsibility of governments, producers, and consumers in safeguarding our food. By promoting global awareness and advocating for best practices, World Food Safety Day plays a vital role in fostering a safer, healthier world where everyone has access to nutritious and hazard-free food.
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“At the heart of sustainable food practices is a commitment to minimizing environmental impact, promoting social equity, and ensuring economic viability throughout the food supply chain. Key practices include organic farming, which uses natural methods to reduce pollution, and agroforestry, which integrates trees into agriculture to enhance soil fertility and biodiversity. Permaculture creates self-sufficient systems, while regenerative agriculture restores soil health. Supporting local food systems reduces transportation emissions and strengthens community ties. Reducing food waste lowers environmental impact and enhances food availability. Sustainable seafood practices ensure the long-term viability of fish stocks, and food sovereignty empowers communities to control their food systems. By embracing these practices, we can build a resilient, equitable, and environmentally friendly food system for future generations.” – attributed by Veeraj Shenoy, F&B COO, Imagicaaworld Entertainment Ltd.
“At McDonald’s India – North and East, we take great care to ensure that the food we serve – every single day to each of our customers at each of our restaurants – is absolutely safe. The ingredients that go in preparation of food are of the highest quality and sourced responsibly. Sustainability, hence, is at the front and centre of everything we do in our businesses. It plays a pivotal role in ensuring robust and resilient food systems. We work very closely with our trusted supply partners in improving practices across our value chain to reduce impact on environment and make a positive difference in the lives of farmers and all stakeholders.
Our customers value how responsibly the ingredients – that go into making of our high-quality delicious food – are grown and how efficient & environment friendly our manufacturing, warehousing and transportation infrastructure and processes are. This is one of the important considerations in their decision to do business with us. We understand and respect this. That’s why our freshly-ground McCafé coffee uses 100% Arabica beans grown on Rainforest Alliance Certified farms, supporting coffee farmers improve their productivity using sustainable methods and better farm management. Local sourcing of lettuce has helped support livelihoods of more than 250 small and marginal farmers across the country and helped equip them with good agricultural practices. 100% of Vegetable oil used in our restaurants supports sustainable production and deforestation-free supply chains. Oil quality is monitored regularly to ensure safe Total polar material (TPM) limits. Our food sourcing and food safety processes & practices across farm-to-fork value chain are completely science-based and ensure that every McDonald’s meal is safe, fresh, flavourful and delicious.
We remain deeply committed to and invested in serving environment friendly, lip smacking, high quality good food to our customers.” attributed by Mr. Rajeev Ranjan, Managing Director of McDonald’s India North and East
“On World Food Safety Day, it is essential to raise awareness of how sustainable practices increase food safety. Sustainable agriculture prioritizes environmental viability, monetary income, and social justice while maintaining food security. By implementing practices such as crop rotation, organic farming, and systematic pest management, farmers are reducing their reliance on primarily chemical-based pesticides and fertilizers. This minimizes chemical residues in the food, making it more palatable. In addition, sustainable practices contribute to soil health and biodiversity, evidently reducing the prevalence of diseases and pests. Healthy soil produces more nutritious crops that are much less susceptible to contamination. Another critical issue is water control, a sustainable irrigation strategy will save you from waterborne diseases by providing easy water sources.
Local and seasonal food production, a cornerstone of sustainability, shortens the supply chain and reduces the risk of contamination in transport and management. This also fosters traceability, making it easier to identify and deal with foodborne sickness easily. Sustainable practices often include strict standards and certifications that ensure compliance with food safety rules. These practices not only prevent the customers but also boost credibility in food systems, supporting more safer and durable food supply.
Celebrating World Food Safety Day acknowledges that sustainable agriculture is not only an ecological imperative, but a cornerstone of global food security.” attributed by Mr. Ravin Saluja, director with STERLING AGRO INDUSTRIES LIMITED (Nova Dairy Products)
“At Trident Fruits, we are continuously pioneering sustainable practices that elevate the quality of our bananas while ensuring environmental responsibility and social equity. Our farming methods are prioritizing organic techniques and biodiversity conservation, fostering healthy soil and ecosystems. We are utilizing smart irrigation systems to optimize water usage, preserving this precious resource for future generations. Social responsibility remains paramount; we are upholding fair labor standards, maintaining safe working conditions, and actively supporting the communities where we operate. Our supply chain is characterized by efficiency, with streamlined logistics and eco-friendly transportation minimizing our carbon footprint. Research and innovation are central to our mission, driving continuous improvement in banana quality through the development of disease-resistant varieties and enhanced post-harvest techniques. All of this helps in ensuring food safety of our bananas.” Attributed by Aryamman Agarwaal, COO and Chief Farmer, Trident Fruits
“Sustainable practices are crucial for ensuring food safety, not just on World Food Safety Day, but every day. At Devrana, we’re committed to this cause, protecting both our environment and the integrity of our food chain. We understand that using sustainable farming methods, responsibly sourcing ingredients, and using eco-friendly packaging are key to serving safe, high-quality food. Embracing sustainability isn’t just about protecting the planet; it’s also about showing our dedication to excellence and the well-being of our customers.”
He added, “from a wholesome view, the focus should remain on getting the ingredients from ethical sources to reduce contamination risks and support fair labour practices. With strict quality controls and traceability systems, we must ensure each ingredient meets high safety standards. Plus, the commitment to eco-friendly packaging helps cut waste and pollution, making operations more sustainable. By weaving these sustainable practices into everything a new standard for food safety and environmental responsibility in the hospitality industry can be created.” Attributed by Abhinav Singh, MD and CEO, Devrana
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“In India, the food safety compliance rules have not been updated for last couple of decades. Lot of the rules are redundant and there are many safety measures that can be implemented/added given that there is a a lot of new technology that is come in last 10 years.
Safety compliance manual should be updated by government and it has to be strongly adhered to, government as well as restaurant owners should be made to understood the value of human life.” Attributed by Mr. Karan Tanna, CEO & Founder of Ghost Kitchens.
“At SMOOR, we’ve been making some exciting changes to embrace a more sustainable future! We’re committed to taking care of the environment, so we’ve implemented eco-friendly practices throughout all our operations.
Sustainable practices in the chocolate industry, like growing cocoa in the shade, using organic farming methods, and following fair trade standards, help make chocolate safer to eat. These methods avoid harmful chemicals and ensure better handling during production, reducing contamination risks. By focusing on these eco-friendly and fair practices, the industry produces safer and higher-quality chocolate for everyone.
One big change we made is switching to sustainable packaging. We’ve ditched the plastic and are now using recyclable or biodegradable materials for all our packaging. This helps reduce waste and minimizes our environmental impact. We also care deeply about supporting our local communities. That’s why, whenever possible, we prioritize sourcing our ingredients from local farmers eg Sabai Grass Hamper. This not only reduces transportation emissions but also helps us build strong relationships with those who growthe ingredients that make our treats so special.
Minimizing waste is another key element of our sustainability journey. We’ve implemented new practices in production to reduce waste generation. This could involve composting food scraps eg Banana Fiber Hampers or even getting creative and using byproducts to create new, eco-friendly hampers for gifting.”
We’re proud of our commitment to sustainability at SMOOR. It’s not just about reducing our footprint, it’s about demonstrating responsibility towards the environment. By adopting these eco-friendly practices, we’re not only making a difference but also setting a positive example for businesses everywhere.” attributed by Kanchan Achpal, CMO, SMOOR Chocolates
“Food safety is a global concern that transcends borders. As international trade increases, it is essential for food quality to meet both domestic and international standards to simplify business operations. The inconsistency in food standards and testing procedures between countries complicates trade in food commodities. Thus, there is an urgent need to establish uniform, science-based quality testing parameters. The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) supports global food safety standards based on the Codex Alimentarius Commission. In India, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has aligned many food additive standards with Codex standards. Collaboration among various agencies to harmonize domestic food standards with global benchmarks is crucial for ensuring food safety and quality.” Attributed by Swarna Jain, Senior Associate, Spice Route Legal
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