Milk processing and milk quality assurance were the highlights of the Milk Quality Assurance and Product Development Division (MQAPDD) of the National Dairy Authority-Central Office (NDA-CO) during the Opening Ceremony of the Food Safety Awareness Week last 24 October 2022 at the Department of Agriculture-Central Office, Diliman, Quezon City.

Led by Lennard Bryle Rosal and Ellamay Melanio, MQAPDD demonstrated how to make a white cheese (kesong puti), cream cheese and crispy cheese nuggets using milk produced by one of NDA’s assisted cooperatives, Sta. Maria Dairy Multipurpose Cooperative. Safe and with approved quality ingredients were used to showcase that locally sourced items can also be world-class.

Another activity was also held in the NDA-Central Office on October 27, 2022 to witness the exhibition of MQAPDD at the lobby grounds of NDA. While featuring the same dairy products, they also featured for the first time their homebrew mocha punch and the sweet and savory line of cream cheese. The staff of NDA-CO and Northern Luzon Department were able to taste the products of MQAPDD.

The Food Safety Awareness Week is celebrated every last week of October as per Presidential Proclamation No. 160, series of 1999. NDA, thru R.A. 10611 or the Food Safety Act, has been mandated to ensure and regulate quality of milk and milk products.