CIPHET organizes workshop for sweet manufacturers on quality and safety

"Sweets are most nutritious food and are part of our rich heritage". These remarks were made by CIPHET Director Dr R.T Patil, during inaugural of one day workshop for members of Punjab Halwai Association on safety and quality at the Central Institute of Post Harvest Engineering and Technology. CIPHET has taken unique initiative to educate and support sweet manufactures in producing hygienic products to benefit consumers eventually.



Around 50 sweet manufacturers from across state participated in the workshop during which they were given practical demonstration for testing quality of raw material and also given presentation to maintain highest quality standards to gain lost trust of consumers. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Patil said that recently indigenous sweet industry had come under trouble due to misinformation campaign raising apprehensions on their quality. He said that sweets were our rich heritage and if steps were not taken it may start disappearing. "Sweet manufacturers are also backbone for farmers and milk producers as they consume lot of their production, their disappearance may eventually cost country very high," he added.



Saying that there is nothing wrong with sweets, Dr Patil said that there was need to ensure quality and safety to get trust of consumers back. "With help of science we can ensure that consumers get good quality products," he said, encouraging the sweet manufacturers to come up with more innovative products and packaging. Senior Scientist Dr H.S Oberoi, while delivering lecture on hygiene and sanitation in sweet manufacturing, demonstrated various techniques to check adulteration in milk and other raw material. Dr Deepika Goswami, Scientist, created awareness among sweet manufacturers on good manufacturing practices.



Dr Yogesh, scientist, gave simple but effective technique for testing adulteration in puree ghee with the help of HCL and sugar. Dr Devinder Dhingra, Senior Scientist, sensitized manufactures for maintaining hygienic conditions in their production area. While Senior Scientist Dr Sangeeta Chopra gathered feedback from the manufacturers, senior scientist Dr S.K Devatkal gave his valuable tips on testing of adulteration especially in the milk. Head Transfer of Technology Dr Deepak Raj Rai said that CIPHET has taken this initiative to help both farmers and consumers. "This was just a first step, we are going to organize more such programmes at CIPHET for food manufactures," he added. Dr R.T Patil distributed certificates to the participants attending the workshop and assured continuous support from the institute.



Narinder Pal Singh, President of Punjab Halwai Association, assured that they would take every step to ensure hygienic conditions in manufacturing. "We have lost lot of business last year, due to negative propaganda. Even health minister of Punjab accepted that no sample was found using synthetic milk or other material," he said, adding that support of CIPHET would help them raise their safety and quality standards. "I can assure on behalf of our association that this time consumers would be getting quality sweets," he added.




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