By John Maico M. Hernandez, PSTC Batangas
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-Batangas capacitated the Sinag ng Kulay LGBTIQA+ Association of Talisay, Batangas on food safety held at 3rd Floor of the Municipal Hall, Talisay, Batangas, June 08-09.
Members of the Sinag ng Kulay were previously trained on fish processing last January 26, 2022 as a prelude to the establishment of their community enterprise under DOST-CALABARZON’s Community Empowerment thru Science and Technology (CEST) program. Hence, to deepen their understanding on food safety, a training on current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) was provided to them. Specifically, the training was designed to help them understand the cGMP requirements, the importance and benefits of GMP implementation in their food business, and the compliance to the stipulations of the Food Safety Act of 2013 RA 10611.
Topics covered during the training were GMP organization, education and trainings, premises, plant construction and design, equipment, sanitation and hygiene, supervision, sanitary facilities, maintenance and sanitation, process control, chemical control, quality management, testing of reprocessed product, testing of returned goods, laboratory facilities and control, documentation, quality audits, warehouse and distribution, receiving and shipping, recall and traceability, retention of samples, and subcontracting of manufacture.
Hand washing, food safety, and cross contamination workshops were conducted to make sure that production staff were aware of the consequences of crucial operations. Pre- and post-diagnostic tests were also facilitated to measure the learning of the personnel who attended the training, and all of them got passing grades.
The DOST Unified Food Safety Training Modules for MSMEs were the reference materials used during the training. The training was facilitated by Mr. Mhark Ellgine A. Libao and Mr. John Maico M. Hernandez, DOST CALABARZON Food Safety Team Members.
