In time for the celebration of the World Food Safety Day, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) capped off its four-part Food Safety Webinar Series on June 7, 2021, with a total of 702 participants.

The webinar series aimed to provide the participants valuable insights to help their business improve its food safety program. This was hosted by DOST MindaDOST Regions IX, X, XI, XII, Caraga, and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), in partnership with the 3M Philippines - Food Safety Department and was facilitated by the DOST XI Food Safety Team.

Four key topics related to the theme, “A journey to food safety from farm to fork”, were discussed namely, Understanding Food Quality and Food Safety (April 16 with 195 participants), Why is Microbial Food Testing Essential? (May 3 with 210 participants), Environmental Monitoring Program as a Food Safety Strategy (May 17 with 146 participants), and Food Safety in the Time of COVID-19 (June 7 with 151 participants). Food safety expert, Mr. Angel “Jun” Barnes, Jr., MSc, of 3M Philippines Food Safety was the speaker of the four webinars.

DOST XI Regional Director, Dr. Anthony C. Sales, CESO III said the theme is very apt and timely especially during this time of the pandemic. He also emphasized the importance of the food safety culture. 

“I subscribe to the message that was relayed to us by the speaker about developing a food safety culture not only in food processing or food manufacturing establishments but even in our households. We are not just talking about this culture but really developing a whole ecosystem that would include procedures, enhancement of knowledge and skills, laboratories in both government and private sector. All these come into play when we establish this ecosystem. I hope that with our collaboration, we will continue to sustain this food safety culture and ecosystem in the society,” Dr. Sales said.

He also thanked 3M Philippines for the partnership and for being onboard with DOST on addressing the need of enhancing knowledge and vigilance of the public about food safety.

“Everyone has a role to play. Food safety is a responsibility of everyone. Everyone should put in contributions to the effort of securing the safety of the food that we eat and the food that we prepare,” Dr. Sales added. 

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