Photo Caption:Shri Suresh Deshmukh – , Joint Commissioner (FOOD) Konkan Division, FDA, Shri Krishna Dabhade - Assistant Commissioner, (Food), FDA and Dr. Nilesh Amritkar – Managing Director, Envirocare Labs Pvt Ltd. while inaugurating the mascot Ms. Sehat at Viviana Mall
Mumbai, 20th September, 2017: Viviana Mall, leading destination mall in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region is the first mall to organize Food Safety Training & Certification (FOSTAC) has laid down by FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India). Mr. Suresh Deshmukh, Joint Commissioner (FOOD) Konkan Division, FDA, Thane was present during the inauguration along with Mr. Krishna Dabhade, Assistant Commissioner, (Food), FDA, Thane who was one of the trainer training the participants from restaurants and food outlets (29 participants in all).
Mr. Krishna Dabhade, Assistant Commissioner, (Food), FDA Thane who himself conducted training for Food Business Operators (FBO’s) of the mall said, “The training will help food handlers to gain advanced expertise and adhere to the required guidelines in order to provide clean, hygienic, safe food to the customers. We have launched our mascot Master Sehat and Ms. Sehat as approved by FSSAI of healthy individuals. Through the mascot we aim to reach more than 20 lakh plus food operators and customers in a span of a year.”
In order to align with the future guidelines or policies by FSSAI’s, Viviana Mall organized this training for the food establishments present inside the mall. FOSTAC program developed by FSSAI will help in maintaining hygiene and food safety implementation at food establishments. The FSSAI is looking to introduce a mandatory requirement of having at least one trained and certified Food Safety Supervisor in each Food Service Establishment very soon in near future. Food safety supervisor will be responsible in preparing, processing and serving safe and hygiene food that is being served at that particular food business operator.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Suresh Deshmukh, Joint Commissioner (FOOD), Konkan division FDA, Thane said, “FDA’s main objective is to provide clean, safe and hygienic food and we are glad that Viviana Mall, which witnesses 25, 000 to 30, 000 footfalls every day has become a part of the initiative. To spread awareness about clean and hygienic safe food, we are taking certain steps and we are thankful to Viviana Mall to provide us a platform to kick start our initiative as landmark for rest of the malls in Maharashtra State. Proper certification from FDA would be made mandatory for obtaining license for a food business in the next five – six months.”
Viviana Mall invited all the restaurants and food outlets present inside the mall to be a part of the FOSTAC training program.
Mr. Sunil Shroff, CEO, Viviana Mall said, “The mall strives to provide better quality and hygienic food to its patrons and employees in the mall. We aim to proactively make our food establishments FSSAI compliant even before the certification becomes mandatory. Even if one supervisor in a food chain is FSSAI certified, the skills can be passed to other employees too. This shall help food businesses to gain more trust from customers and deepen the brand connect.”
The FOSTAC training program will slowly and steadily reach across all food operating businesses in order to make all operators FSSAI compliance. After assessment participants will be certified as FSS (Food Safety Supervisor) which is valid for 02 years.
About Viviana Mall
Viviana Mall, a part of Sheth Corp and well known as a ‘Destination Mall’ was built with an objective of giving an experience to its audience. Viviana covers over 250 leading brands in its prime retail and leisure space. The mall is India’s first and only visually impaired friendly mall and has also launched “XRCVC-Viviana Extension” a resource centre for visually impaired. With an area encompassing one mn sq.ft, the mall boasts of a unique tenant mix – Cinepolis, a megaplex with 14 screens, 19 anchor tenants for the first time in the country and brands like Shoppers Stop, Marks & Spencer, Charles & Keith, ZARA, Forever 21, Tommy Hilfiger, Lifestyle, Hamleys, Starbucks, Copper Chimney, Pizza Express, British Brewing Company, Irish House and many others making it the most happening destination in Thane. The defining feature of the mall is Cinepolis - one of the largest megaplexes in the country with a facility to showcase over 70 shows on a single day with a seating capacity of 2,400 people. It also facilitates 2400 number of cars and 800 two wheeler parking slot which considered to be one of the highest in the industry. Additionally, the large food court and the dining area are spread over 40, 000 sq ft and can seat upto 1, 300 people. The Mall opened its gate to endless discoveries in the year 2015 and since then it has garnered international and national accolades various categories. Viviana is India’s first mall to have largest Solar Power plant installed at a single site which generates 91000 watt of energy in a month.