Food poisoning in schools: Telangana to set up institution level food safety committees

Chief Secretary A. Santhi Kumari issued orders on Thursday to establish a committee comprising the Headmaster, Principal, or Warden, along with two other staff members from the institution. The committee is tasked with inspecting the storeroom and kitchen before each meal is prepared, ensuring the quality of provisions and maintaining hygiene in the kitchen.

Hyderabad: After the uproar over the frequent food poisoning incidents due to consumption of mid-day meals, the State government has decided to constitute institution-level Food Safety Committees to oversee cooking and the food served in various institutions to prevent food contamination and food-borne diseases.

Chief Secretary A Santhi Kumari issued orders to this effect here on Thursday. The Committee will consist of the Headmaster or Principal or warden and two other staff members from the institution. The committee will have to inspect the store room and kitchen before cooking each meal and ensure quality of provisions and hygiene in the kitchen.

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After the meals are prepared, committee members should taste the food for quality and other factors and then the food should be served to the students. Everyday, the committee should take photos of the activities and maintain a record. The nodal department would develop a mobile-based app to upload the photos.

The Collectors have also been directed to ensure that mandal/ divisional / district level officers are deployed as supervisory officers for each institution. These officers should visit the institution before and after the meals are cooked and consume the food before being served to the students, the Chief Secretary said.