BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: Food safety awareness should begin from the household level before it can be effectively reinforced across the wider food supply chain, a key message highlighted during a World Food Safety Day panel dialogue hosted by Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB).
The event, organised by UTB’s School of Applied Sciences and Mathematics (SASM) in collaboration with the World Food Forum Brunei Chapter, was held on June 8 at UTB’s Lecture Hall in conjunction with the Mid-Year Conference and Exhibition (MYCE) 2026. It carried the theme “From Burden to Solutions — Safe Food Everywhere”.
Delivering the keynote address, Assistant Professor of the Food Science and Technology Programme at UTB Dr Syazana Abdullah Lim, stressed that food safety should not be viewed solely as a regulatory or industrial responsibility, but as a shared behavioural practice shaped by culture and daily habits.
She highlighted how “herd culture” plays a significant role in influencing hygiene behaviour, noting that good food safety practices are more likely to be sustained when they are embedded within families and communities.
According to her, preventing foodborne risks requires consistent hygiene awareness that begins at home and extends into workplaces, markets and the broader food industry.
Dr Syazana also emphasised the importance of transforming food safety challenges into practical and sustainable solutions, urging stakeholders to focus on actionable improvements across the entire food system—from production and processing to distribution and consumption.
The dialogue, opened by Senior Assistant Professor and Dean of SASM Dr Namasivayam Navaranjan, brought together participants from academia, regulatory agencies, the agriculture sector, industry players and young entrepreneurs to exchange perspectives on strengthening food safety practices.
A panel session titled “Safe food everywhere: practical solutions from farm to fork” further explored regulatory enforcement, scientific research, food handling practices, packaging standards and entrepreneurial experiences.
Among the panellists were representatives from the Brunei Darussalam Food Authority, the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood, UTB researchers, and youth entrepreneur representation.
Discussions repeatedly underscored the importance of compliance with food safety regulations and proper hygiene practices, with consumer health and protection remaining the central priority. - Borneo Bulletin/ANN
