Food Safety Works, conducted the inaugural “Safety with Divinity” program at Rajarajeshwari temple on the 23.01.21. The program was inaugurated by H. H. Paramapujya Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Jagadguru Sri Sri Sri Jayendra Puri Mahaswamiji, Padasevaka Peethadhipati, from Sri Kailash Ashrama Mahasamsthana, Rajarajeshwari temple. The event was presided over by Ms. Sarika Agarwal, Managing Director Food Safety Works, in the presence of Mr. Dhanya Kumar Thaluk health officer, Bangalore South Thaluk, Bangalore Urban District.
Speaking on the occasion, His Holiness highlighted the importance of the program by emphasizing on offering of prasadam in safe and hygiene manner at place of worship, that food safety is not just desirable but its absolute necessity. He also expressed his pleasure for Food safety Works to have initiated this training program for their kitchen staff. Mr. Dhanya Kumar from FSSAI further added that how safe bhog should be, as the devotees will receive and consume the food given in the temple. He also spoke about Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1950 and FSS act 2006, by FSSAI to ensure that consumers eat safe food.
Talking about the program, Ms. Sarika said the objective of the program was to create awareness about food safety among the food handlers who prepare the prasadam at the premises. This has become very critical with quite a few people falling ill by consuming prasadam served at the place of worship. She also made a commitment of doing at least few program with Food Safety Works bearing all the costs associated with the program. But her vision is to have the social and community organizations to come forward to support this initiative so that more such programs may be organized.
As part of the program, 20 food handlers were trained on food safety and each of them will receive a certificate from FSSAI for completion of the training. Hygiene kits, consisting of sanitizer, apron, masks, cap and gloves were also handed over to the food handlers. The training was conducted in kannada by Dr. Shashikanth Kunigal ( National Level Resource Person for FSSAI) who has conducted many training in catering and manufacturing for FSSAI. The training is part of BHOG program which is an initiative of FSSAI to train and implement food safety management system at places of worship. Dr. Shashikanth highlighted the importance of FSSAi’s stipulated guidelines for BHOG. The program was organized with the help of Mrs. Amita Pandey who has been a humble devotee of the temple for many years. Over all program was an enlightening experience for food handlers.
If you need additional details of the program or would like to support the initiative you may reach out to Smriti Soman, Program Manager, Safety with Divinity, by emailing her at divinity@foodsafetyworks.com. Below are some photographs from the event.
