Building Awareness at the Grassroots: Food Safety Education Reaches Government School Students at Paduvanagere

Bengaluru, 12th March 2026: An awareness programme titled Aharasurakshate was conducted on 12 March 2026 at the Government High School in Paduvanagere, Kanakapura (Taluk), Ramanagara (District), with the aim of educating school students on food safety, hygiene, and security practices. The initiative was organised by the Department of Food Technology in collaboration with the FET NSS Wing, involving ten M.Tech Food Technology student volunteers.

The session was designed to sensitise young learners to everyday food safety habits and the importance of maintaining hygiene in food handling and consumption. Students were guided on essential practices such as washing hands before meals, consuming freshly prepared food, avoiding stale or contaminated items, and ensuring proper storage of food and drinking water.

A key highlight of the programme was a series of simple, engaging experiments demonstrating food adulteration in commonly used items such as edible oil, turmeric powder, ghee, milk, ragi, and vegetables. Through these hands-on demonstrations, students observed how adulterants can be detected using basic household methods, making the concept both practical and relatable.

The interactive format encouraged active participation, with students asking questions, sharing observations, and engaging closely with the demonstrations. This approach helped transform abstract concepts of food safety into tangible learning experiences, strengthening their understanding of how food quality directly impacts health and wellbeing.

The programme had a clear and measurable impact on the students, significantly improving their awareness of food hygiene and adulteration issues. It also encouraged them to adopt safer food practices in their daily lives and share this knowledge within their families and communities, extending the programme’s reach beyond the classroom.

By taking food safety education to the school level, the initiative reinforced the importance of community engagement in public health awareness. It also provided valuable outreach experience for the student volunteers, aligning academic learning with social responsibility and real-world application.