DOST: We helped Phisgoc train SEA Games caterers on halal food prep
Published Nov 29, 2019 12:00 am
By Hanah Tabios
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) said it helped the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) to train and certify personnel in charge of preparing halal food at the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.
(Manila Bulletin)
In an interview with the Manila Bulletin, DOST Region 11 director and Halal Program leader Dr. Anthony Sales said the agency has been in touch with the competition’s organizing committee since early this year to ensure that foreign delegates, particularly those from Islamic-faith countries, will be served with the proper diet.
But he said the intervention was only limited to the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac, catering only for delegations living in the athlete’s village.
“We had initial meetings to discuss our engagement with them as far as providing training and certification on halal for the purpose of ensuring the safety and the quality of the food that will be served during the Southeast Asian Games,” he said.
DOST food technologists, chemists, microbiologists, and those involved in the agency’s food safety program conducted trainings on Halal Hazard Analysis Criticial Point (HASAP) and Halal Good Manufacturing Process (GMP).
Sales added that private organization Phisgoc, chaired by House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, had also sought help from a leading Malaysian firm which has a standards authority in training people in charge of critical food preparations.
He said part of the training was a certification as halal auditor.
In Muslim countries, halal auditing is a certification from a recognized halal food authority which certifies a person as being technically competent with halal procedures and requirements.
As defined by the Islamic sacred book Koran, halal food adheres to Islamic law.
“The training was conducted early this month and we also trained industry personnel. These are basically caterers and food establishments that will provide food during the Southeast Asian Games,” Sales said.
It will be recalled that among the pre-competition blunders were the limited food rations that made headlines early this week.
(Manila Bulletin)
In an interview with the Manila Bulletin, DOST Region 11 director and Halal Program leader Dr. Anthony Sales said the agency has been in touch with the competition’s organizing committee since early this year to ensure that foreign delegates, particularly those from Islamic-faith countries, will be served with the proper diet.
But he said the intervention was only limited to the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac, catering only for delegations living in the athlete’s village.
“We had initial meetings to discuss our engagement with them as far as providing training and certification on halal for the purpose of ensuring the safety and the quality of the food that will be served during the Southeast Asian Games,” he said.
DOST food technologists, chemists, microbiologists, and those involved in the agency’s food safety program conducted trainings on Halal Hazard Analysis Criticial Point (HASAP) and Halal Good Manufacturing Process (GMP).
Sales added that private organization Phisgoc, chaired by House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, had also sought help from a leading Malaysian firm which has a standards authority in training people in charge of critical food preparations.
He said part of the training was a certification as halal auditor.
In Muslim countries, halal auditing is a certification from a recognized halal food authority which certifies a person as being technically competent with halal procedures and requirements.
As defined by the Islamic sacred book Koran, halal food adheres to Islamic law.
“The training was conducted early this month and we also trained industry personnel. These are basically caterers and food establishments that will provide food during the Southeast Asian Games,” Sales said.
It will be recalled that among the pre-competition blunders were the limited food rations that made headlines early this week.