The Akshaya Patra Foundation, which serves Mid Day Meals (MDMs) to children studying in government and government-aided schools across ten states, inaugurated its first Food Safety and Quality Control Lab (FSQC Lab) in Ahmedabad, a statement issued by Akshaya Patra Foundation said here.
The statement further said that the state-of-the-art microbiology laboratory is equipped with the latest and modern technology and high precision testing instruments for evaluating the food products right from the farm to plate and has been established in technical collaboration with Mysuru-based Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI).
Speaking on the occasion, Madhu Dasa, chairman, Akshaya Patra Foundation said, "It is indeed a great moment to have a state-of-the-art food safety lab being inaugurated in Ahmedabad. All the kitchens of Akshaya Patra follow a standard process for preparing the mid-day meals. This process is charted out to ensure hygiene and quality of the cooked meal and also to adhere to the food safety standards.”
Among the feature of the laboratory, the statement highlighted, is the microbiology lab, which is equipped with the latest technology instruments in enumerating the microbial count, using filtration techniques with pre-sterilised membranes of 0.45 microns. The air sampler instrument evaluates the environmental quality in few hours and additionally, the laboratory is equipped with imported Duran-make glass wares to carry out physical and chemical analysis to the maximum accuracy level, the statement pointed out.
