Mumbai: The 60-year old Hinduja hospital here has received the HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) certification from a Netherland-based agency.
The HACCP methodology is a structured and preventive approach to food safety that optimises efforts to provide the consumer with safe food, a release said.
The hospital put to test its food services division for a HACCP certification, usually done by the hotel industry--and became the first hospital in India to have got certified by DNV, Netherlands, it said.
Most hospitals as a rule do not allow patients to consume food brought from outside as it could be contaminated or improperly cooked, which can lead to other complications.
Hinduja Hospital’s in-house food service department already has strict protocols that are followed to maintain food safety and hygiene. Every day, the hospital prepares about 3,500 packs of food.
Hinduja Hospital CEO Pramod Lele said "the food and food service department is equally important in speedy recovery of patients. This certification is usually sought after by hotel industry but we decided to go for it."
The certification process involved audits conducted by, DNV Business Assurance Management, Netherlands. It ensures that the systems for managing food safety are in place and adequate prerequisite programmes are established for ensuring safe food, the release said.
PTI
