Jaipur: The mid-day meal department has directed district education officers to ensure school heads assess food safety risks before serving meals to students, following an incident in Kota in which 27 govt school students fell ill after consuming food.The advisory issued on Aug 25 calls for regular checks of grain quality and storage, kitchen hygiene, cooked food, gas stove safety, drinking water, and the cleanliness and health of cooks and helpers. Schools have also been told to promptly investigate complaints from students.School heads have been instructed to immediately stop using foodgrains or other items showing mould, pests, moisture, foul odour, abnormal colour or any other defect.“Such items should be safely segregated from other food supplies, and the concerned higher authority must be informed at once. Under no circumstances should suspicious food items be used for students’ meals,” the order stated.The department further directed schools not to serve cooked food if any abnormality is detected in its taste, smell, colour or appearance. Such food must be inspected before being considered for consumption.Schools have also been asked to prepare and prominently display an ‘Emergency Contact List’ in the head of institution’s office and kitchen.The list must include 112 for emergency services, 108 and 102 for ambulance and medical assistance, 101 and 112 for fire services, 1098 for the child helpline and contact details of the nearest govt hospital.Officials said the measures were aimed at preventing food-related incidents and ensuring prompt response if students fall ill after consuming school meals.
