Food testing lab opens in Vadodara

VADODARA: The Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) and the Hotel and Restaurant Association Western India (HRAWI) have set up a non-commercial food testing laboratory in the city.

The laboratory has been set up in accordance with global standards and is equipped to carry out microbiological and chemical testing. Restaurateu-rs, caterers, retail food traders, bakers, confectioners and othe-rs connected with the industry will be able to get their products tested at the laboratory.

"Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Act (2006) makes it mandatory for food business operators (FBOs) to get their food products tested and accredited. The laboratories that currently exist are not sufficient for the present bakery federations, catering associations, food retail traders and mithaaiwala associations," said HRAWI president D S Advani.

"FBOs will have the advantage of testing their food products according to international standards at 40% to 50% lower costs than other commercial laboratories," said Advani.

The laboratory will be managed by a team of technologists trained to test Indian culinary samples. "FSSAI mandates self-declaration of food items from FBOs. But unlike other laboratories, we will send technologists to collect food samples personally to maintain transparency," said HRAWI Gujarat region chairman Nirav Gandhi.

HRAWI will also provide training to hoteliers to set up systems and procedures to make them independent in maintaining food safety norms.

Hotels will be accorded certifications upon maintaining proper safety levels for a year.

"The training programme will include setting up of a documented system on cutting, handling preservation of food and other raw materials. It will include training on temperatures at which different types of food articles need to be preserved and other defined parameters," said former HRAWI president Kamlesh Barot.

"The training programme will be tailor-made for each hotel according to ISO 22000 along with hazard analysis and critical control points certification norm. It will provide guidance in implementing FSSAI laws and procedures," added Barot.