The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) announced the starting of an online training program for food business operators (FBOs) on Wednesday, the 6^th of May. The training program is intended to help them maintain safety and hygiene across the food supply chain amidst the coronavirus outbreak. 

This unprecedented situation, with the corona virus spreading expeditiously, is posing a serious challenge for food supply chains worldwide. “The challenge is to ensure uninterrupted food supply to consumers whilst containing the risk of COVID-19 for the workers, customers, and all participants in the food supply chain”, said FSSAI.   

“Further, to enable and equip food businesses to function and reduce the risk of contagion, FSSAI has launched a training programme for food businesses under its flagship Food Safety Training & Certification programme (FoSTaC)”, further added FSSAI.

The online training will be conducted via empanelled training partners. Food businesses can visit the Food Safety Training and Certification (FoSTaC) website. They can also connect directly to the FoSTaC training partners for the online training program. The trainees will be provided with a certificate of participation via the FoSTaC portal.

This online training program aims to help all stakeholders in the food ecosystem. This includes manufacturers, packers, transporters, retailers and food delivery partners and collectors. 

Owing to the outbreak of COVID 19, many people have been struggling for survival. Due to the lockdown, the labour class men and women have lost their jobs and hence their means of wages. They don’t have money and are striving hard to get food. 

The government, many NGOs, social workers and many other kind hearted people have, therefore, stepped forward to help these people. They are arranging food for these unfortunate people. But the coronavirus has made everyone fearful of infection. Hence, these people need to take the necessary measures to maintain the safety and hygiene of the food as well as themselves. 

“The agencies or NGOs serving food in places including langar, community kitchens, among others, should also get their food handlers trained for COVID-19 precautionary measures”, stated FSSAI.