Find out why food quality control in Nepal is important.

Foods directly relate to the health of consumers so; their safety and quality standards must be maintained at all times.

Food quality control standards are almost similar throughout the globe and companies must ensure the standards are consistently followed.

In the context of Nepal, food quality control is not strictly maintained and customers are compelled to consume low-quality foods and pay expensive prices. 

So, what actually a food quality control means?

First of all, let’s understand quality control. It is a systematic process to identify and rectify any deficiencies in finished products before they are ready to be delivered. This system ensures the goods are exported with optimum quality.

Food quality control refers to maintaining the optimum quality of food items and ensuring consumers are served safe and healthy foods. This control mechanism prevents consumers from eating contaminated foods and their negative consequences.

Now, let’s explore some importance of food quality control.

A Food Quality Control system can enhance the overall health and performance of your hotel, restaurant, resort or other food-related businesses.

Here are the major aspects of a proper food quality control system that can benefit the industry.

Creates better brand

Consistently following and maintaining the food quality control standards can create a good brand image of a food business. If your company manages to offer high-quality foods and satisfy customers’ tastes and requirements, it will boost the goodwill of your business in the minds of customers.

Wise implementation of a food quality control system can enhance brand reputation as well as compel people for word-of-mouth marketing of your food business. 

In addition, it can assist your business to sustain and run smoothly in today’s competitive market.

Results in Reduced Production Cost

The Food Quality Control system not only focuses on maintaining the quality of food items but also emphasizes optimizing the production processes and operations. 

Wastages, poor product quality, low-quality ingredients and various other low-standard products can escalate the production costs. This is where a standard food quality control system can act smartly to improvise.

Quality control can monitor the low-quality products and can also control the number of food wastages. By doing that, the production cost of your food business can be reduced.

Provides confidence and trust to customers

If your restaurant, hotel or resort is offering high-quality, healthy and safe foods, it is pretty sure your customers will build trust and confidence to come back again. 

People don’t like low-quality foods and poor service. They may try your food items once but will never return back or offer positive reviews if the food quality is not maintained. 

In order to build trust and loyalty with customers, proper food quality control standards must be maintained at your facility at all times.

Enhances Revenue

Implementing a standard food quality control system means enhancing the overall performance of your food business. This system if followed consistently can attract more customers and also compel them to visit your facility time and again.

This, in turn, increases the performance and revenue of your food business. People love to share photos, reviews, stories and various other content on different social media. If your restaurant or hotel manages to make it happen, more people will walk in and hence, boost profitability.

Protects your business from unreliable parties

A standard food quality control system ensures your suppliers, service providers are genuine and offer top-notch assistance. It protects your business from unreliable suppliers and false quality accusations from anyone involved may it be suppliers or customers.

The food quality control system if followed correctly and consistently can prevent your business from being flagged by the food regulatory body. This is because it ensures all the food laws, regulations and standards are followed as per the requirement.

There are various other benefits of implementing a food quality control system but how do we maintain the standards?

Every country has its own department of food technology and quality control that monitors and sets regulations.

Food Quality Control in Nepal

Talking about our country, we have the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control (DFTQC) under the supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoAD).

This department plays a vital role in maintaining food quality control systems, research and development in the field of food science and technology.

DFTQC was established in 1961 A.D. as Department of Food and in 1966, the name was changed to Food Research Laboratory. Again, the name was converted to Central Food Research Laboratory (CFRL) in 1980 and the current name was finalized in 2000 as per the decision of MoAD.

The DFTQC department works with various divisions and sections mentioned below.

Food and Feed Safety and Quality Control Division

Food Technology Development and Nutrition Division

National Food and Feed Reference Laboratory

Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Section

SPS Enquiry Point

Codex and Infosan Secretariat

Administration Section

The main vision of DFTQC is to strictly implement a food quality control system and ensure safe and nutritious food is available to all Nepali citizens.

DFTQC works to:

Protect the health of consumers by ensuring the availability of safe and healthy food with the creation of understanding among producers, vendors as well as consumers and facilitating food trade in a cooperative approach based on scientific evidence along with the updated regulatory framework.

Promote food businesses by developing proper food processing technology through R & D and circulating and embracing the result of research for the development of food processing industries.

Promote the nutritional status of people through the development of food-based nutritional approaches.

Conclusion

The importance of food quality control is immense and it can’t be neglected. Every food business operator must ensure all the laws, regulations and food standards are fulfilled at all times.

The health of consumers is vital so, the quality, safety and healthy nature of food items must be maintained always.

In the context of Nepal, the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control is responsible for implementing and monitor standard food quality control systems. Though the department is working well, there are various food safety challenges.

The majority of food businesses including restaurants, hotels and resorts are found neglecting food hygiene and sanitation. 

Besides, lack of compliance with Good Agricultural Practices, Good Hygiene Practices and Good Manufacturing Practices have resulted in increased food safety challenges.