Karnataka bakeries body backs food safety inspections, cites training efforts

The Karnataka Bakeries, Sweets and Cafe Association (KBSCA) has expressed support for the recent inspections carried out by Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) officials at sweet-manufacturing units across the state. The association said that regular checks are vital to ensure food safety and to keep consumer trust intact.

According to the association, it has already been working on food safety awareness through the Food Safety Training and Certification (FoSTaC) programme, which is aligned with FSSAI regulations. The training, offered free of cost, has so far covered 2,000 people working in bakeries, sweet shops, and cafes in districts including Bengaluru, Udupi, and Hassan. The next phase will target Belagavi, Chitradurga, and Raichur.

Madhu Iyengar, General Secretary of KBSCA, said the training sessions educate employees on hygiene practices such as wearing hairnets, keeping nails trimmed, and wearing clean clothes. They also learn proper storage methods for ingredients like sugar and cream. Entrepreneurs are taught how to source ingredients and how to detect adulteration, including demonstrations on identifying fake honey.

G.K. Pramod, mentor of the association, clarified that FSSAI does not ban food colours outright, but their use must follow prescribed limits. Mr. Iyengar added that colours are often necessary to meet customer expectations for attractive sweets and cakes, especially for occasions like birthdays. He noted that colours such as lemon yellow in kaju roll and orange-red in barfis and namkeens are used in small, safe quantities and must be ISI-certified.