Food officers ordered to check midday meals

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 20

Days after children were taken ill for eating midday meal infested with rats, Delhi Commissioner (Food Safety) today issued order to the Deputy Commissioner (Food Safety) to inspect the hygiene and cleanliness of midday meal kitchens and transportation facilities under their districts.

Food safety officers have been directed to visit the kitchens and send notices if the hygiene level of kitchens is “too bad”, ordering them to shut down or improve as the situation warrants as per standards laid down under FSS, 2006 and Rules 2011.

“After inspection, they are directed to fill up the inspection format completely and if required, improvement notices be issued, if hygiene is found to be too poor, kitchen may be ordered to shut down,” read the order from Commissioner (Food Safety) Dr Mrinalini Darswal.

“All NABL accredited empanelled private labs may be directed to pick surveillance samples from kitchens allotted and take these samples straight to their labs for testing,” the order added.

The officers have been also told to lift and test water used for cooking midday meals. All kitchens are to be sampled for testing, including microbiological test.

AK Singh of the Department of Food and Safety has been designated to coordinate all activities and place a daily report before the Commissioner. “Non-compliance will be viewed seriously,” said the order.