Chandigarh : March 14 : Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, PGIMER, CHD organised a Pre-conference CME to create and improve environment of self-compliance to food safety rules and regulation.
The event was organised under the supervision of Dr Poonam Khanna and Dr Geeta Mehra by Dr Rachana Srivastava, Ms. Rachita Jain and Mr. Savitesh Kushwaha.
Professor and Head of the Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, PGIMER, Chandigarh, Dr Amarjeet Singh opened the session with a welcome address and highlighted the role of nutrition and lifestyle changes in various diseases and suggested inclusion of local food in diet for a healthy life. Other distinguished speakers for the session were Mr. S.dave (Former Chairman-Codex), Mr. K.P Singh ( General Manager, Netherlands), Mrs. Sunita Malhotra (Chief Dietitian, PGIMER, CHD), Dr. Ajit Dua (Director, PBTI, Mohali), Dr. Vijay Pal Singh (Joint Director , FSSAI, New Delhi), Dr Poonam Khanna (Associate Professor, DCM& SPH, PGIMER, CHD), Mr. Sukhwinder Singh (Designated officer-FSSAI, CHD), Dr. Geeta Mehra (Head, Department of Food Science, MCM, DAV College for Women),Dr. Indrani Ghose (Strategic Advisor-Food Safety and Quality CIIs) accentuated that to attain health for all, food safety starting at ground level must be ensured.
Mr. S. Dave gave inaugural key note address on food safety, considering its importance in preventing various food borne illness. He reinforced the establishment of an expert group for food safety to move forward and development of a structured plan to educate a wide variety of eating establishments including caterers, college / hospital canteens, mid-day meal providers, restaurants & dhabas, as well as street vendors.
Mr K P Singh enlightened the participants regarding functional foods, its labelling and its impact on health and wellness of masses.
Elucidating the role of diet in modifying the lifestyle, Mrs Sunita Malhotra highlighted various preventive nutritional practices in keeping various emerging diseases at bay.
Dr. Ajit Dua, focussed on the concept of food authenticity and impact of different food frauds around the world. She also emphasized on role of FSSAI in meeting challenges in food authenticity testing.
Dr Vijay Pal Singh highlighted the evidence-based studies for antimicrobial resistance from food perspective and concept of one health. He shared the roadmap and actionable points to tackle the problem of antimicrobial resistance in poultry and animal food industry in India.
Dr Poonam Khanna briefed about Food Safety Training and certification (FoSTaC) programme run under apex body FSSAI. She emphasised that this is the need of an hour and to bring up change in food safety aspects from small to big food business operators.
Discussing about food safety operations, Mr. Sukhwinder Singh introduced audience to the innovative concept of food testing on wheels.
Realizing the importance of food adulteration, Dr Geeta Mehra explained about frugal science for identification and detection.
Dr Indrani Ghose gave a valedictory presentation on ensuring a maturity curve on food safety systems and practices.
