DOST 8 Food Safety Team helps protect human health

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Mrs. Donata Victorioso, owner of Ayang’s Mini Bakeshop in Kawayan, Biliran
being interviewed by the DOST8 Food Safety Team during the firm visit last
February 11, 2016.

Food is the most basic of the human needs, and consumption of safe sustenance is the primary concern of health conscious consumers. According to World Health Organization (WHO) the process by which foodstuffs gets from the farm to the plate has changed drastically over the past half century that safe food handling must be highly observed. Unsafe food poses health threats endangering everyone particularly vulnerable population such as infants, young children, pregnant women, and elderly among others.

Thus, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) established the Food Safety Program to promote the adoption of safe food handling practices among food processors, especially DOST Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) adaptors, and other stakeholders of the processed food industry.

As part of the implementation of this program, the DOST 8 Food Safety Team, a group of experts in line with food safety, assisted by DOST-Biliran Provincial S&T Center staff conducted assessments of the food safety practices of three (3) SETUP-assisted firms namely: Mark Sahn’s Bakeshop, Symonn’s Bakeshop and Ayang’s Mini Bakeshop on February 11-12, 2016 in Biliran Province.

Mr. Arthur Cerera, owner of Mark Sahn’s Bakeshop
in Biliran, Biliran, being interviewed by Ms. Rosella L.
Gopo, DOST 8 Food Safety Team member, during the
firm visit last February 11, 2016.

Mark Sahn’s Bakeshop, a single proprietorship business from Biliran, Biliran, availed assistance from SETUP for acquisition of related equipment for the improvement of its bakery in 2014. Likewise, Symmon’s Bakeshop, a family enterprise from Naval, Biliran was granted P2, 000,000.00 financial assistance in 2015 for the adoption of vegetable based bread production technology. Ayang’s Mini Bakeshop, in the other hand, which is a family owned business from Kawayan, Biliran also received a financial assistance amounting to P200, 000.00 for improvement of its facility. 

The consultancy on Food Safety forms part of the package of assistance provided by DOST to its SETUP clients specifically for those firms belonging to the food sector. The three firms produce bread products that form part of Filipinos regular breakfast meal and even during snack treats. It must be ensured that the firms practice standard good manufacturing procedures so that their outputs are safe for consumption.

Mrs. Isabelita M. Pamposa, DOST 8 Food Safety member,
conducting an interview with one of the employees of
Symonn’s Bakeshop in Naval, Biliran last February 11, 2016

The Food Safety Team is expected to come up with recommendations to improve the efficiency in food handling and compliance of the firms with the FDA food safety standard. Follow up visits are expected in later dates to discuss their recommendation and ultimately implement the needed change (Juliet Aguirre, AA3, DOST-Biliran.)