The NRAI Food Safety Taskforce Members met with Mr. R. V. Karnan, State Food Safety Commissioner

NRAI's Special Taskforce to implement FSSAI standards effectively across all Restaurants in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: After the recent issue of highlighting the violations of norms by F&B establishments in the city by the Food Safety Department, NRAI Hyderabad Chapter, the foremost Restaurant Body of the country, has immediately taken effective steps of redressal and constituted a special NRAI Food Safety Task Force on 27th of May. This Taskforce comprises of 15 Members, chaired by NRAI Hyderabad Chapter Head; Mr. Sampath Tummala.

The NRAI Food Safety Taskforce Members met with Mr. R. V. Karnan, State Food Safety Commissioner today and apprised him of the Taskforce created by NRAI to work in collaboration with the FSSAI body & GHMC to raise food and hygiene standards in the city. During the meeting, Mr Karnan suggested the possibility of adding Hygiene rating to the Restaurants and displaying them in Restaurants for customer awareness. Both parties have agreed to host a large event in coming months to further enhance awareness of required protocols.

NRAI Food Safety Taskforce is taking immediate actions as follows:

• Organising multiple FSSAI awareness workshops/trainings to educate all Restaurant Members across the city. The first training was organised today.

• Planning a big food safety week in association with FSSAI, Government and GHMC in the next few weeks

• Hygiene audit program for Restaurants to have third-party auditors who can keep tabs on the quality as providing safe food is not only our business but also our responsibility to the society.

• The taskforce has put together a checklist of all compliance requirements from F&B Operators to comply with all Food Safety Regulations as per Food Safety and Standards Regulations, 2011 & Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. This checklist has been shared with all Fraternity Members to ensure that they are aware of all compliances to adhere to.

• Develop a Hygiene rating system for restaurants

• Planning multiple medical camps to provide food handler certificates to staff of Restaurant Members.

On this matter, Sampath Tummala said “As a responsible body, we have constituted this special taskforce which will take all necessary measures on utmost priority to enhance awareness and knowledge about all required protocols of food safety amongst all F&B Operators. To further revive the confidence of the customers, we have decided to organise multiple training sessions. The day-long workshops, which will be held zone-wise will focus on reiterating the standards set by the FSSAI; hygiene checks and personal grooming of the staff handling the food.”