Workshop on food safety held for wardens

Zilla Panchayat President Pushpa Amarnath said, in the wake of recent food poisoning in Nanjangud Kusturba School and Doddahundi school, the heads and wardens of residential schools should take utmost care in the interest of the health of students.

She was speaking after inaugurating a workshop on Food Safety and Quality Act, organised for the wardens of residential schools under the Social Welfare department, Backward Classes department, department of Public Instruction and other departments, at the ZP Hall, here, on Monday.

Precautionary measures

She said, precautionary measures should be taken right from purchasing provisions and vegetables, transportation, food preparation and serving to the students.

Cleanliness and hygiene should be maintained at all stages as the children are left at the responsibility of the wardens, because the parents trust the respective hostels.

Food Safety and Quality Nodal Officer Dr S Chidambar said, the Act to tackle adulteration of food items was enacted way back in 1920, but law was given teeth in 2006 with the enactment of the new Act, which provides for imprisonment up to life term and a fine to a maximum of Rs 10 lakh.

He said, all those who deal with food products — from groundnuts vendors to restaurants — should register under the Act and should abide by the guidelines.

Health department Microbiologist Sheshagiri said, food items get contaminated in various ways, with physical, chemical and biological particles.

If vessels are not properly washed, chemicals used in soaps and cleaning agents may cause poisoning. Food may get contaminated even if the cook sneezes while cooking food, he added.