1,500 people walk for food safety

Over 1,500 people participated in the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Safe Food Walkathon that was organised in the City on Sunday. The walkathon is part of a series of campaigns being launched towards sensitising target sectors like street food vendors about safe food.

The event was organised in association with Cargill India and other stakeholders, including National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI) and Voluntary Organisation in Interest of Consumer Education (VOICE).

Painting, poster-making competition, thematic performance, nukkad natak, presentations by street food vendors, NCC cadets and school bands, mass dissemination of food safety practices through outdoor hoardings, digital and social media were some of the highlights of the event. Training materials on food safety were also disseminated to schools and colleges prior to the event.

The walkathon raised awareness among street food vendors, consumers and the industry on their roles, rights, importance of hygienic practices and steps for preventing food-borne illnesses.

Justice N Santosh Hegde, former Lokayukta, who inaugurated the walkathon said, “Surakshit Khadya Abhiyan is as important as Swachch Bharat Abhiyan and this kind of a programme should be included in the curriculum for youngsters, so that they are made aware of clean food early in life.”

“Through this initiative, Cargill and CII have a vision towards sensitising consumers and other stakeholders to their roles, rights and importance of hygienic practices and systems for food safety risk mitigation,” said Achyuth Iyengar, Managing Director, Cargill Feed and Nutrition India.