ITI to assist food industry to expand pasta product range

The Industrial Technology Institute (ITI) which is committed to assist the local industry has launched an accelerated program to assist in expanding and diversifying the food industry sector. The latest effort of the ITI is to assist the pasta based industries. Earlier the ITI provided assistance to the bakery sector as well as to spice grinding mill owners by conducting two very well attended workshops in the first quarter of the year.

The Food Product Development Group of the Agro and Food Technology Division of the institute has now planned a workshop on "pasta products" on 29th April 2003 for the benefit of potential entrepreneurs who plan to embark into this area as well as those already manufacturing the product and are interested in diversifying their product range. The pasta products that include noodles, macaroni, spaghetti and short pasta are no doubt popular amongst all age groups due to the convenience and versatility of the product. This one day workshop will consist of lectures on principles involved in pasta making, quality control, good manufacturing practices, 5S concept and introduction to HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) with special reference to this sector of industry. Practical demonstrations will be conducted on the preparation of noodles, other pasta products and vegeroni, which is a macaroni incorporating vegetables. Vegeroni will no doubt, be a boon to the busy housewife who will not have the hazze of cleaning and cutting vegetables with an additional advantage of being able to prepare a balanced meal within a very short time.

The ITI workshop that is scheduled for the 29th of April will be conducted in Sinhala and limited to thirty participants with the participant receiving a certificate at the end of the program. More information can be obtained from contact Tel: 01-683127.