FNU’s NTPC conducts food safety training

Press Release Posted On: September 11, 2020

NTPC trainers with staff of Orion Distributors Services Fiji PTE Ltd, who participated in the ‘Implementation of Good Hygiene and Good Manufacturing Practices’ training.

Fiji National University’s (FNU) National Training and Productivity Centre (NTPC) conducted a two-day food safety training workshop for Orion Distributors Services Fiji PTE Ltd, aimed at upskilling staff in the ‘Implementation of Good Hygiene and Good Manufacturing Practices.’

Orion Distributors Services Fiji Pte Ltd is a sister company of Vuvale Restaurants Fiji Ltd trading as McDonald’s Fiji.

According to Distribution Centre Manager Avinesh Singh, given the current global COVID-19 pandemic, the company’s utmost priority has been to ensure that their staff upgrade their skills in food safety management and good hygiene practices.

“Food safety has always been a paramount objective of the company as we store and distribute raw ingredients for the meals sold by McDonald’s Fiji,” said Singh.

“The training ‘Implementation of Good Hygiene and Good Manufacturing Practices’ covered controlling food safety hazards such as viruses and bacterial, thus the relevance of this training to the current crisis.”

Nine staff were upskilled in the areas of food safety that can be better managed by having policies and procedures in place to control chemical, physical and biological food safety hazards with particular emphasis on the control of biological hazards. This includes virus, fungi, bacteria and parasites.

The trainees practised the concept of controlling these hazards by simple means such as sanitization, hygiene, personal behaviour, temperature monitoring and maintenance.

Singh said the company will continue to invest in upskilling its staff through such trainings to keep in par with the international food management standards.

Food Safety and Quality Instructor at NTPC, Vicky Narayan said this training was tailor-made to suit the food industry practices relevant during the current global pandemic.

“Food safety is considered as an important aspect of the business – if it is not practised, it can lead to product recall which could further create business image issues.”

“Together with this the business can suffer monetary losses due to loss in customer confidence and there can even be increased chances of consumer deaths related to unsafe food practices.”

Narayan said NTPC provides training relevant to everyone involved in handling food either through manufacturing, processing, or catering.

“Our training can be undertaken by food safety practitioners, quality assurance professionals and hotel staff.”

“Businesses involved in providing services to food handlers can also get access to these training. These businesses include pest management services, sanitation services, suppliers of raw ingredients, packaging materials and food contact materials and contractors for food establishments,” Narayan added.