AFST(I) Thrissur Chapter in association with Verghese Kurien Institute of Dairy and Food Technology, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Mannuthy and Kerala Food Safety Department, Thrissur District, jointly organized an awareness program on food safety on account of World Food Safety Day 2022 under the banner Foodsalvatio'22.

 

This event was conducted for 5 days starting from 6th of June to 10th of June 2022. The various programs included were flash mob, drama, survey, awareness talk and wound up with a Nationwide webinar. Competitions like flash talk and photography contests were also conducted as a part of the event. The following are the list of events that took place on various days.

 

Day1

The morning of 6th June commenced with a drama at Paramekavu Vidhya Mandir School, Thrissur during the morning assembly and ended with an awareness talk. We were delighted with the presence of about 120 students from classes 9 to 12 and the teaching & non teaching staffs.  A warm welcome from Mrs. Preethi, Principal, Vidhya Mandir School, gave us a very positive kick-start for the event as it was our 1st day. Mrs. Sindhu, Vice Principal, Vidhya Mandir School, gave us a supportive feedback which gave us confidence for the upcoming occasions. A food safety awareness survey was taken among the teachers and awareness notices were distributed to teachers and to each class for the students. Programs at the school came to an end by 10:30 A.M. and we reached back to the campus at 10:45A.M.

On the same day the programs were also exhibited at Mannuthy Square. It started with a flash mob at 4:30 P.M. and was followed by a drama and an awareness talk. Survey among the public was successful as everyone cooperated understanding the importance of food safety. It was witnessed by staffs from the food safety department, Thrissur and office bearers of AFSTI Thrissur Chapter. This was also covered by the local news channel CTV. Being the rush time, a lot of onlookers were attracted by the flash mob and drama taking place and

notices were also distributed among the viewers.

 

Day2

On World Food Safety day, June 7, the programs started at 10:00A.M. infront of VKIDFT, Mannuthy with the students and teaching and non teaching staffs as spectators. Dr. A.K. Beena, Head of Microbiology department congratulated the efforts of students and lauded their energetic performance. Positive feedbacks were given from various faculties and students reg the program.

Towards the evening of the same day, the events were conducted at Shakthan stand, Thrissur around 4.30 P.M amidst a thick crowd.We were delighted with the presence of the officers from food safety department,Thrissur. A crowd of fascinated onlookers made the program a huge success. A number of people gave us informations regarding the unhygienic conditions of certain restaurants while surveying and during notice distribution at the bus stand and we were delighted to know how well it reached out to the audience. We reached back to the campus by 5:35 P.M.

 

Day 3

The programs were held in front of the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy with the students, teaching and other non teaching staffs and other visitors as the audience. Flash mob, drama and an awareness talk were performed along with the survey conducted among the teachers and students as well as the notice distribution. The program started at 4:20 P.M. and ended by 5:00 P.M.

 

Day 4

The flash talk competition on the topic "food: choosing right and eating safe" commenced at 12:30 P.M. 7 short listed participants from the various colleges presented their ideas  online. It was judged by Dr.Ligimol James, Asst. Professor, Dairy Microbiology, Mr. Faisal I, Asst. Professor,  Food Process Technology, Mrs. Rashmi K G, Asst professor, Dairy technology, and  and it ended at 1:55 P.M.

A Photography contest on topic "EATING OUT : TASTY OR SAFETY" was also held on the same day. 13 entries were received from different colleges. This was judged by Dr. Irshad A, Asst Professor,Department of  Livestock Products Technology and Mr. Rejeesh R Nair, Asst Professor, Dairy Microbiology.

Next day's event started by 4.30P.M in front of Vadakkumnath Temple in Swaraj Round, Thrissur. The programs were witnessed by the people of various age groups. As usual it began with an energetic flash mob by the students and was followed by an impressive drama and was wrapped up by an informative talk on food safety. Response was overwhelmingly positive and one of the spectators came forward and conveyed her thoughts and feedbacks and appreciated the efforts and its necessity in current times and motivated us to carry on the spirit to continue spreading awareness among the public. Finally, the day came to an end by 5.00P.M.

 

Day 5

The 5 day program ended with a National webinar with 185 audiences around the country. Dr. Sanu Jacob, Director, Southern Regional Office, fssai, educated us with a presentation on "eat right to make your health right."

A consumer awareness Survey was conducted in both online and offline mode. Around 250 people were surveyed in total over the four day period. Out of these, 124 people were directly surveyed offline during the awareness programmes and the notices were distributed to inculcate the sense of maintaining food safety  and around 125 via online. During the survey, we could also assess the recent issues in the minds of participants woth regard to food and could educate or suggest measures to alleviate them. We were able to educate the common public about the basic food safety measures as well as information regarding reaching out to the food safety officers. We were able to burst many of the common myths  regarding food and successfully inculcate awareness, which was the event's main goal.

 

Report of the valedictory function

Valedictory function started soon after the National webinar presented by Dr. Sanu Jacob, Director, Southern Regional Office, FSSAI. It began with a prayer at 11.00 A.M. The dignitaries, teachers, non teaching staffs, guests and students were welcomed by Mr. Faisal I, Program Convener, Foodsalvatio'22

In the absence of Dr. S.N. Rajkumar, Dean, VKIDFT, the presidential address was delivered by Dean in charge, Dr. A.K. Beena, Head, Department of  Dairy Microbiology. It was followed by the inaugural address by Dr. M.R. Saseendranath, Hon' Vice-Chancellor, KVASU. Then a program report was presented by Ms. Sana Wilson, Btech Food Technology student - 2020 batch, VKIDFT along with the presentation of a short video which highlighted the events from 6th June to 10th June 2022. Ms. Afina Ayoob, student of Btech food technology - 2020 batch, VKIDFT shared her  experiences that occurred throughout the 5 day journey.

It was followed by an informative keynote address by Dr. Rekha, Food Safety Officer, Chalakudy.

Afterwards, the announcement of winners of the various competitions viz. photography contest and flash talk competition was done and cash prizes were awarded along with the certificates by Dr. George T Oommen, President, AFSTI Thrissur Chapter. Certificates were also given away for the participants of all the events of  Foodsalvatio'22. Felicitation address were done by dignitaries Dr. George T. Oommen, President, AFSTI Thrissur Chapter, Dr. Irshad A, Secretary, AFSTI Thrissur Chapter and Dr. Jose Mathew, Associate Patron- Students Union- VKIDFT.

Mr. Muhammed Jasim K.M., President, Students Union 21-22, VKIDFT expressed the vote of thanks and the programme concluded by 12:30 P.M.