Sharjah - After 30 students took ill in a food poisoning incident last week.
Published: Tue 18 Sep 2018, 5:59 PM
Municipalities in Sharjah and Ajman have launched a crackdown on school canteens to ensure food safety.
Regular inspections are being carried out to monitor the food being served to the students so there's no incident of food poisoning.
The checks are also aimed at reducing obesity among the children.
A top official at the Sharjah Education Council (SEC) said the health safety of the students is one of the top priorities.
"SEC is making huge efforts in coordinating with departments concerned to conduct checking to make sure that the school canteens are following health standards and prescribed conditions."
The SEC has also been organising periodic meetings with canteen owners to discuss food safety issues and kinds of food being served to the students to prevent not just poisoning but obesity as well, he said.
The inspection team - that includes experts from the Sharjah Municipality and members of health and environment committee - is issuing warnings to canteen owners and appealing them to comply with regulations.
Hefty fines will be imposed on errant canteens and they may be ordered shut if students' health is compromised.
"The food consumed in school canteens should contribute to students' nutrients intake and also improve their dietary habits," the official pointed out.
He added that it is important that parents, teachers and students work together to support a school culture in which pupils can choose nutritious and healthy foods.
The official said the 'Healthy Food For Students' initiative, launched in the academic year 2011-2012, has contributed in implementing health and hygiene rules and reduced the number of obese students.
He stressed that food suppliers must follow food safety rules while transporting their stuff to the canteens.
Also read: 28 children taken ill after food poisoning in UAE
The official said the SEC always welcomed complaints of parents against food suppliers and canteens.
"The council has no-tolerance towards any malpractices or violations that may affect the health of students and necessary action will be taken against the offenders."
He added that SEC and authorities concerned will hold educational training and awareness programmes to educate workers in the canteens on the proper way to handle food.
Surprise inspections
The authorities of Ajman Municipality are also conducting surprise inspections on canteens operating in the emirate to check the food being offered to the students.
The inspection also includes checking of water tanks in the schools. Khaled Al, housing director of the Health and Environment Department, said inspections have been carried out prior to the start of the new academic year to ensure that the schools are abiding by the health safety norms set by the civic body.
These inspections will continue throughout the year. Last year, many school canteens were found failing to comply with health and environment standards.
Parents lodged a lot of complaints about negligence by some schools that endangered students' health.
However, since the beginning of this year, no such complaints have been received yet.
"The school canteens violating rules will be issued a notice and face stringent penalties," a municipality official said.
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