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, expanding its footprint across the Northeast. Under the initiative, 100 street food vendors in Mizoram will be trained, taking the total number of trained vendors in the region to over 10,000 across all seven states.
The project, launched by Nestlé India in 2016, has already benefitted more than 92,800 street food vendors across 26 states and four Union Territories. It focuses on improving health, hygiene, safe food handling, waste disposal, and entrepreneurship skills among vendors.
K. Lalrinzuali, IAS, Commissioner of Food Safety, FDA Mizoram, said the initiative will strengthen food safety standards and enhance Mizoram’s appeal as a tourist destination. “By improving hygiene among street vendors, we can boost both tourism confidence and local trust in street food,” she said. Kunwar Himmat Singh of Nestlé India added that the programme aims to drive long-term behavioural change while supporting sustainable business growth for vendors.
In Mizoram, the initiative is expected to enhance consumer confidence in local street food, particularly in key hubs like Aizawl’s markets and tourist destinations such as Reiek Mountain and Phawngpui National Park. Improved hygiene standards could boost footfall, support local livelihoods, and strengthen the state’s growing tourism-driven food economy.
