Mumbai, Oct 11: The Food Safety Supervisor Training in Advance Catering (FoSTaC) programme, a collaborative effort between the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Western India (HRAWI), marked another successful milestone. The latest FoSTaC training sessions took place on 25th September at the Hotel Diplomat in Mumbai and on 26th September at Usha Ascot in Matheran. 74 hospitality professionals participated in the programmes that aimed at equipping professionals with the essential knowledge and skills to ensure safe and healthy food practices.

The training session at the Hotel Diplomat was inaugurated by Mr Vivekanand, Trainer; Mr Gurbir Bedi, Owner, Hotel Diplomat and Joint Honorary Secretary, HRAWI; and Mr Kunal Gujral, Secretary General, HRAWI. The latter was inaugurated by Mr Vivekanand, Trainer; Mr Rahul Munot, Resident Manager, Usha Ascot and Mr Sharma, Manager, Byke Hotel.

“The significance of this training program cannot be overstated, especially in today’s world where consumers place a premium on health and food safety. The collaboration between FSSAI and HRAWI represents our joint commitment to promoting safe and healthy food practices within the hospitality industry. We are proud to have successfully trained and certified close to three thousand hospitality professionals across India’s Western region. Our mission is to continually raise the bar in food safety, ensuring that our patrons enjoy safe and delightful dining experiences.”

Pradeep Shetty, President, HRAWI

The FoSTaC training initiative underlines the industry’s commitment to meeting the demands of health-conscious and food safety-aware consumers. It covers a wide array of essential topics including food handling, preparation, hygiene, sanitation and waste management. Participants immerse themselves in these critical areas, gaining a deep understanding of food safety practices and acquiring the skills needed to implement them effectively in their daily operations.

“As the industry continues to thrive, ensuring food safety becomes even more critical. The FoSTaC programme plays a pivotal role in this by equipping professionals with the knowledge and expertise to maintain high food safety standards. HRAWI and FSSAI remain dedicated to this collaborative mission of promoting safe and healthy food practices in the hospitality industry. With each successful training session, we take a step closer to ensuring that every dining experience is not just delightful but also safe.”

Nirav Gandhi, Sr. Vice President & Chairman, FSSAI matters, HRAWI

HRAWI has successfully trained and certified 2760 professionals in FSSAI’s FoSTaC Training Programme.

About Hotel & Restaurant Association Western India (HRAWI)

The Hotel and Restaurant Association (Western India) is a 72 years old Association of Hotels and Restaurants in Western India. Its members include Restaurants and Hotels up to 5-Star Deluxe categories. With membership base spread across Western India, HRAWI covers Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Goa and Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, and is considered to be the voice of the Hospitality Industry. The association is part of the national body of the Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI), located in New Delhi, which was originally founded in Mumbai in 1950 by the late Mr J.R.D. Tata.