On August 7,2026 the fourth edition of the India Food Safety Conclave, organised by Innovative Food Foundation, Food Safety Works, and BCIC, was held at the Sheraton Grand Bengaluru, bringing together nearly 180 delegates from across the food industry.With the theme “Navigating Food Safety in the New World of Health & Wellness,” the conclave brought together ideas, debates and collaborations around the changing food ecosystem. The discussions highlighted a growing connection between food safety, nutrition, health and innovation.
The conclave opened with a welcome address by Ms Sarika Agarwal, Founder & MD of Food Safety Works. This was followed by a thought-provoking talk from Dr. K. Madhavan Nair, former Associate Director at the National Institute of Nutrition, who emphasized the importance of responsible nutrition. The event also saw the launch of the 3rd Label Awareness Survey Report.
Spotlight Sessions
- Functional food innovations: Ms Pariksha Rao of The Good Bug explored how functional foods are reshaping consumer health.
- Risk assessment frontiers: A panel moderated by Mr Srinivas KR (Metro Cash & Carry) with experts Dr. Vasanthi Siruguri, Dr. Nimish Shah, and Dr. Ashutosh Mittal tackled emerging challenges in food-safety risk evaluation.
- AI in food safety: Mr Kamesh Janakiraman of Dassault Systèmes’ BIOVIA showcased how technology is transforming safety management.
- Future-ready regulations: Moderated by Mr Prakash Ramarao (BCIC), this panel featured Mr Naveen Kumar (Britannia) and Dr. Beena Rai (BettrLabs) on building frameworks that keep pace with innovation.
- Health & wellness products: Ms Rinka Banerjee of Thinking Forks shared what it takes to create products that truly resonate with consumers.
- Formulation, consumer science and claims: The final panel, moderated by Mr Ramesh Agarwal (Food Safety Works), brought together Dr. Sujata Jayaraman (Unilever) and Chef Harpawan Singh Kapoor (ITC FoodTech).
Celebrating Food Safety Culture
The Food Safety Culture Awards underscored the day’s central message: safety is not a checklist, but a culture an organisation either builds or doesn’t.
- HoReCa category: BlueDove Hospitality Pvt. Ltd.
- Manufacturing category: Tirupati Agri Trade Ltd, HoneyDay Bee Farms, and Fresh Farm Goodness (FFG Farms), each cited “for excellence in building and sustaining a strong food safety culture.”
Bridging Industry & Academia
The poster contest showcased fresh thinking from students and researchers:
- Winners: Soham Sil, Sohan Reddy, and Gauri Sreekumar from R.V College of Engineering.
- First runner-up: Matcha Abhiram from St Joseph’s University
- Second runner-up: Harish Theriraja T. S. from Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences
Exhibition Highlights
Gold partners included Britannia Industries, Strider DCT, and Herbalife Nutrition. HoneyDay Bee Farms, BettrLabs, Schevaran, and Highfield International joined as Silver partners. Exhibit partners such as Akshayakalpa, GITAM University, and Altem Technologies rounded out the showcase. Together, the exhibitors represented areas ranging from primary production and manufacturing to education, hygiene and technology.
The Big Takeaway
Founded and powered by Innovative Food Foundation, Food Safety Works, and BCIC, the day made one thing clear: food safety, nutrition, and innovation cannot thrive in silos. Progress requires regulators, manufacturers, researchers and hospitality professionals to work together. Food safety needs to be built into how organisations operate, not simply what they say they are doing
