World Food Day observed at UVAS

LAHORE (Pakistan Point News - 16th Oct, 2018 ) The Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition and Office of Research Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC) of the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) Lahore in collaboration with Punjab Food Authority (PFA)observed “World Food Day” with the theme of “Our Actions are our Future: A Zero Hunger World by 2030 is Possible”.

An awareness seminar anda poster contest featured the day. Director General Punjab Food Authority (PFA)CaptRtd Muhammad Usmanpreside over theseminarwhileVice-Chancellor Prof DrTalatNaseer Pasha, Dr Sana UllahIqbal and many guest speakers from public private sector organization includingSenior Nutritionist from Pakistan Nutritionist and Dietitians Society MsGhazala Pervez Zaman, Quality Assurance Manager Metro Cash & Carry SagarMehmood,Provicial Manager Food Fortification Programme Dr Amber Elahiand a large number of students from different institutions and faculty members were present.

Speaking on the occasion, DGUsman spoke about the role of Punjab Food Authority in ensuring food safety and security in Punjab. He said hygiene and adulteration is the priority of PFA and with the consultancy and help of experts/scientists Punjab Food Authority working actively to control adulteration in food items on zero tolerance in all over the Punjab. He mentioned about the different types of adulteration and labeling fraud with consumer in various food items in the form of packed milk, energy drinks, cooking oil and tea whitener/ dry powder.

He said it is not the aim of PFA to seal the business of peoples rather working for the improving of business for the benefit of consumer to providing them safe and high quality food. He also lauded the role of UVAS for the development of livestock sector and also for the support of minimum pasteurization law.DG Usmanlauded the performance of the students for making posters to apply their knowledge in preparing different posters related to nutrition. Addressing the audience, Prof DrTalatNaseer Pasha said that it is our responsibility to create awareness among peoples about the pure high quality food and adulterated food by utilize our knowledge and skills. He said knowledge and research is the key to curb to control malnutrition issues in Pakistan. In seminar, guest speakers delivered their lecture to participants on different topics, MrSager Mahmood spoke about role of food industry in addressing food security and hidden hunger while MsGhazala Pervez Zaman delivered her lecture on strategies to combat hidden hunger and malnutrition at household level and Dr Amber Elahi spoke about food fortification programme and its effort to address hidden hunger in Pakistan. At the end of seminar DG Usman along with Prof Pasha distributed cash prizes among the winners of poster contest. In poster contestHibaAsif from (UVAS) won the 1st position, Fatima Khalid (UVAS) got 2nd position whileMinahil from Kinnaird Collage got 3rd position.