The Food and Agriculture Department of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) organized a webinar on “Research-Driven Standards for Food Safety” on 10 June 2025, to mark the occasion of World Food Safety Day. The webinar was conducted in line with the global theme of this year, “Food Safety: Science in Action”, emphasizing the critical role of scientific research in shaping food safety standards. The webinar was attended by over 125 stakeholders from research organizations, academic institutions, and the food industry.

The session commenced with a keynote address by Shri Sanjay Pant, Scientist G and Deputy Director General (Standardization-II), BIS, who highlighted the importance of integrating research-based evidence into the national standardization framework. The inaugural address was delivered by Dr. B. Sesikeran, Former Director, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, who shared valuable insights into how nutrition science and risk assessment must support food safety standards. Suneeti Toteja, Scientist F/Senior Director and Head of the Food and Agriculture Department, BIS, gave an overview of BIS’s initiatives in promoting research-led approaches for food safety standardization.

The technical session featured several impactful presentations on recently completed BIS-supported research and development projects. Dr. Dandamudi Usharani, Principal Scientist, Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysuru, presented the project on the Updation of Micronutrient Test Methods for Food Products, where more accurate analytical methods for micronutrient quantification were developed, improving the precision and reliability of testing methods.

Dr. Naveena B. Maheswarappa, National Fellow and Principal Scientist, Indian Council of Agricultural Research-National Meat Research Institute (ICAR-NMRI), Hyderabad, presented the details of the two innovative and successfully completed research projects. The first involved the development of a smartphone-integrated lateral flow immunoassay for in-situ authentication of meat species, offering a rapid, user-friendly solution for meat verification. The second project established a protein biomarker-based method for the detection of cold-slaughtered chicken in both fresh and cooked forms, enhancing food authenticity checks and consumer assurance.

Dr. Vishnuraj M.R., Scientist, ICAR-NMRI, Hyderabad, detailed two research projects. The first project focused on Shelf-life Assessment of Shell Eggs, setting parameters to evaluate egg freshness during storage, essential for ensuring quality in the supply chain. The second project was on development of a real-time PCR method for the detection of Buffalo DNA in food and feed products, providing a sensitive and specific tool to prevent food fraud and support regulatory compliance.

Further, Dr. Prasanna Vasu, Principal Scientist, CFTRI, Mysuru, shared outcomes of the project on Updation of Quality Specifications for Neutral Spirits for Alcoholic Drinks, which refined safety and quality parameters for spirits used in alcoholic beverages, ensuring enhanced product consistency and safety. The final project, presented by Dr. Raju Kumar Saha, Senior Research Fellow, IIT Kharagpur, focused on defining Quality and Safety Parameters for Asafoetida, aiming to standardize its quality specifications; the final report for this project is currently under review by the Spices and Condiments Sectional Committee, FAD 9 of BIS.

The webinar concluded with an open discussion session and insightful concluding remarks by Dr. Alok Kumar Srivastava, Former Chief Scientist, CFTRI, Mysuru, who emphasized the significance of embedding rigorous scientific research into standard development processes. The event underscored BIS’s ongoing commitment to advancing food safety through science-driven standards and collaborative research.

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