Food safety training for meat vendors, carenderia operators

CEBU, Philippines —  A total of 194 food handlers participated in the Food Safety and Basic Food Hygiene Training conducted by Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry from January 27 – 28, 2023 at the Interim Building, Carbon Market, Cebu City under the auspices of the Cebu Investments Development Concierge Project of the Cebu City Local Government.

Known for its variety of street foods and food shops offering unique food ideas, Cebu is a “go-to” City to satisfy incessant cravings for new food experiences.

Seeing this vast opportunity to level up and upscale the market and food industry, the CCCI and the Cebu City government have continued to conduct a series of training programs for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), cooperatives and people organizations to accelerate the rebuilding of livelihoods and businesses so the local economy of Cebu City and Province of Cebu can steadily bounce back and grow from the different disruptions in the last three years.

With the engagement of the CCCI Cebu Food Consultancy Group (CFCG) food expert member, Ms. Josie F. Elli emphasized the importance and benefits of implementing food safety in the food business of 132 meat vendors and 62 food shops, locally known as “carenderias.” The combined lecture-discussion and exercises include Introduction to Food Safety, Food Safety Hazards, and Basic Food Hygiene.

A food handler is anyone who works in food business and who touches food or surfaces that are likely to be in contact with food such as cutlery, plates, and bowls. A food handler may do many different things for a food business such as cooking, preparing, serving, packing, displaying and storing food. Food handlers can also be involved in manufacturing, producing, collecting, extracting, processing, transporting, delivering, thawing or preserving food.

For more information on these training programs, one may call the CCCI office at (63 32) 232-1421 and look for Ms. Julie Nabong, Jr. and Ms. Karen Joy Autor or email at [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] or visit the CCCI website @ www.cebuchamber.org and FB page.