Preili trainee chefs invited people to a safe-food tasting

On 4 June, a discussion and tasting on the topic “Tasty Laws—Novel Foods, Allergens and Genetically Modified Organisms” took place at the Preili branch of the Riga Tourism and Creative Industries Technical School (hereinafter—RTRIT). The event was organised as part of the European Parliament Information Office’s “Tasty Laws” project.

RTRIT Preili branch teachers Inga Proma and Inara Liepina delivered presentations during the discussion, while Ilona Skorodihina, a representative of the Europe Direct Information Centre in Eastern Latgale, informed the young people about opportunities organised by the European Parliament for school students to participate in EUROSCOLA activities. At the event, the young people, staff and guests learned what genetically modified food is, gained an insight into how European Parliament decisions improve the quality of life of people with allergies, and developed an understanding of the role of decision-making institutions, the state, local governments and food-service professionals in ensuring safe food for the residents of Latvia and other European Union countries. In the second part of the event, a tasting of novel foods was offered under the guidance of teacher Inara Liepina. The favourite dish was chia seeds in orange juice, accompanied by goji berry tea. Inara Liepina explained that it is very important for all residents, including young people and especially students learning cooking skills at school, to have information about and be competent regarding the products they use and prepare for others.

To explore this topical subject, ten vocational schools and technical schools in Latvia have joined the “Tasty Laws” project. They currently have access, for use in the learning process, to educational materials created by the European Parliament Information Office in cooperation with nutrition science experts and educators. At the end of the course, trainee chefs and future food-service professionals at the schools organised a themed tasting open to interested members of the public and shared the knowledge they had acquired on the subject.

The European Parliament Information Office explains that Members of the European Parliament have consistently advocated food safety, consumer information and animal welfare. Last year, a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council entered into force requiring all food producers in the European Union to indicate allergens on product labels. The new rules also stipulate that information about allergens must be provided for unpackaged products, such as food offered in restaurants or canteens.

Jolanta Rubine,

Content editor of the Preili Municipality Council website