Navi Mumbai: 2-Day ICFoST Panel At Dr DY Patil University Discusses Food Safety, Sustainability, And Social Media's Impact On Consumer Choices

Navi Mumbai: A two-day panel discussion about the changing dynamics of food science, the influence of social media on consumer choices, use and misuse of social media in the food sector was conducted at Dr DY Patil University.

The event conducted on December 19 -21 was the 30th Indian Convention of Food Scientists and Technologist (ICFoST) a premier annual event organised in the field of food, science and Technology. ICFoST focuses on critical themes such as food safety, standards, security, and sustainability, driving forward-looking conversations that shape the future of the food ecosystem in India and beyond.

The event was hosted by the Association of Food Scientists and Technologists (AFSTI), a leading professional organization dedicated to advancing the field of food science and technology.

The panel discussion was hosted by Kellanova India and the topic chosen was FoodSSSS (Food safety, Standards, Security and Sustainability). “Kellanova’s participation in the event highlighted its commitment to advancing food safety, sustainability, and knowledge sharing across multiple Food ecosystem partners to enable informed choices for end users i.e. consumers,” said a press statement issued by the university.

On Day 2, the panel, moderated by Swarn Singh, Director – Marketing, Kellanova South Asia, featured distinguished panelists including Dr. Ashutosh Upadhyay, Head of Department – Food Science & Technology, NIFTEM; Dr. Jagmeet Madan, National President, Indian Dietetic Association (IDA); Sonam Pradhan, Digital & Social Media Marketing Lead, Kellogg’s India; Pankaj Sharma, Founder & CEO, Happa Foods; Vaidehi, Director – Regulatory Affairs, FSSAI; and Neerja Deodhar, Consulting Editor, The Good Food Movement.

The panel discussed various aspects affecting the food sector including the influence of social media on consumer choices, the need for collaborating between food ecosystems, the challenges faced by start-ups in leveraging digital platforms to build brand credibility as well as the critical role of regulations in ensuring consumer safety.

“Broadly, the session emphasized the importance of collaboration between industry, academia, and media to foster a more sustainable and informed food ecosystem,” said the statement.