By Joy Ofasia
Women working across the food and hospitality industry have attended a recent Food Safety Training organized by Tasty Bilas, describing it as a valuable opportunity to strengthen food handling practices and improve business standards.
The two-day training, held on the 28th & 29th of October at the SIWIBA Conference Room, brought together food local business owners, café operators, entrepreneur , caterers, and others to learn essential food safety principles, hygiene practices, contamination prevention, sanitation procedures, and safe food storage methods.
Among the participants was a representative from BNatural Café, an indigenous woman owned café in Honiara, who highlighted the importance of the training for women led businesses and their teams.“This training is vital for us café owners, managers, and even our staff,” the participant said. “Learning from professionals who have extensive experience in this field and are willing to share their knowledge with us women working in the food industry is truly a blessing.
The skills and information we gain from trainings like this help us improve our services, protect our customers, and maintain high food safety standards.” The participant added that ongoing professional development is essential as food businesses continue to serve growing numbers of customers and adapt to industry standards.
Training facilitator and Tasty Bilas owner Judith Amai emphasized that safe food practices are everyone’s responsibility and play a critical role in preventing foodborne illnesses while building customer confidence.
The training covered a range of topics including food safety responsibilities, personal hygiene, food contamination and cross contamination prevention, cleaning and sanitation, temperature control, HACCP principles, and creating a strong food safety culture within workplaces.
Women entrepreneurs attending the training said initiatives such as these not only strengthen business operations but also empower women to lead with confidence and professionalism in the food and hospitality sector.
As more women continue to establish and manage food businesses across Solomon Islands, participants encouraged greater access to industry focused training programs that support business growth, customer safety, and long-term success.
