Wanaparthy District Takes Steps to Ensure Safe Mid-Day Meals
On Friday evening, officials from the welfare and education departments gathered at the I.D.O.C. conference hall in Wanaparthy district to discuss concerns over recent incidents of children falling ill after consuming contaminated food in mid-day meals. The meeting focused on implementing measures to ensure food safety in ashram schools, KGBVs (Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas), and hostels across the district.
The authorities ordered that every hostel and school maintain a stock receipt register and a daily stock distribution register for better monitoring of food supplies. To strengthen accountability, schools were instructed to form food supervision teams and mess committees, including students, to oversee food quality. These teams will be responsible for signing off on incoming stock and checking the quality and expiration dates of all food items.
Special emphasis was placed on water safety. Officials advised that only clean drinking water should be used for cooking and washing food items. Regular cleaning of kitchens and food storage rooms was also mandated to maintain hygiene.
Before serving meals, the food supervisor must taste the food to ensure it is safe for children. If any issues are detected, the food must be recooked before being served. Cooks were instructed to wash their hands with soap before preparing meals, and children were encouraged to wash their hands and plates before eating. To support this, schools were directed to provide sufficient soaps near handwashing areas.
Additionally, all individuals involved in cooking mid-day meals will undergo Vidal blood tests to ensure they are free from infections. If any instance of contaminated food or poor hygiene is found, the food supervisor will be held accountable.
The welfare department officers, along with special officers and mandal education officers, were instructed to visit schools, hostels, and KGBVs regularly to address any issues promptly. Immediate action is expected if problems are identified during inspections.
The meeting was attended by Additional Collector of Local Bodies, Sanchit Gangwar, Additional Collector of Revenue, G. Venkateswarlu, as well as principals, welfare department officers, and other officials. Their collective aim is to ensure children receive safe, nutritious meals and to prevent any future incidents of foodborne illnesses.
