Nestlé India, in collaboration with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Mizoram, and the National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI), has launched Project ‘Serve Safe Food’ in the state, completing its expansion across the Northeast. The initiative will train 100 street food vendors in Mizoram, taking the cumulative number of trained vendors in the region to over 10,000 across all seven states.
The programme, launched in 2016, has so far benefitted more than 92,800 street food vendors across 26 states and four Union Territories. It focuses on building capabilities in health, hygiene, safe food handling, waste disposal, and entrepreneurship, aimed at improving operational standards and business outcomes for vendors.
K. Lalrinzuali, IAS, Commissioner of Food Safety, FDA Mizoram, highlighted that the initiative will strengthen food safety standards and enhance the state’s tourism profile, citing key attractions such as Aizawl’s bustling markets, Reiek Mountain, and Phawngpui National Park. Kunwar Himmat Singh, Head of Sustainability and Societal Initiatives at Nestlé India, said the programme is designed to drive long-term behavioural change while supporting vendor sustainability and growth.
In Mizoram, the initiative is expected to improve quality benchmarks in the informal food sector, boost consumer trust, and increase tourist spending. Enhanced hygiene standards could strengthen demand in key urban and tourist hubs, supporting the growth of the state’s evolving street food and tourism-linked economy.
