Nestlé India launches Project Serve Safe Food in Nepal; aims To improve knowledge and practice of food hygiene among 500 street food vendors

Nestlé India has launched Project Serve Safe Food in Nepal in partnership with the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control Nepal, the Nepal Tourism Board and National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI). Approximately 500 street food vendors will be trained under this project on food safety and hygiene in Nepal. The project was first piloted in 2016 in India, where over a period of 4 years, 20,000 street food vendors were trained across 17 locations.

Project Serve Safe Food focuses on educating and training street food vendors on health, hygiene, safe food handling, waste disposal, and entrepreneurship. These trainings will equip the street food vendors to undertake measures such as usage of disposable gloves and personal hygiene that prevent the spread of foodborne diseases.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Matina Joshi Vaidhya, DG, Department of Food Technology and Quality Control, Nepal said, “Eating clean, safe and healthy food is of utmost importance for people. Our street food vendors play a very crucial role in safe delivery of food to consumers. Therefore empowering our street food vendors with knowledge and skills will go a long way in our commitment towards food safety.”

Mr. Deepak Joshi, CEO, Nepal Tourism Board, added, “Nepal is a popular tourist destination and street food vending is an important source of employment for the local population. The initiative undertaken by Nestlé India for upskilling street food vendors becomes very important in the wake of Visit Nepal 2020, organised by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation for promoting tourism in the region. I am sure that Project Serve Safe Food will aid in developing and strengthening the food safety infrastructure in Nepal.’’

Mr. Hikmat Singh, Senior Director, Nepal Tourism Board, “Skilling our street food vendor is an important initiative that we will be undertaking in Nepal.  This will enable the street food vendors to learn about food safety and hygiene. We are excited about Nestlé India, launching project serve safe food in Nepal.”