Edited by NormanJB at 22-3-2017 10:36 AM
Despite measures being taken to ensure that food poisoning in schools do not happen again, the media has reported at least six food poisoning cases in the first three months of this year. If previous years could be used as a barometer, there is also a high chance that the number would balloon by end of the year as 153 cases of food poisoning happened between January to September of 2016 involving 6,000 students.
In this month alone, two cases have been reported with 42 students in Balik Pulau, Penang went down with food poisoning on March 9 and another case in Segamat, Johor on March 14 where 88 students and three teachers suffered from food poisoning.
For illustration purposes only
This problem has been recurring and every time it happens, people get outraged but what action is actually be taken to solve this problem or have the problem more under control? Malaysian Digest seeks to find out by asking several people of interest.
Parents Feel That More Need To Be Done To Ensure Food Operators Comply For Thirah, 35, she was fortunate that her children, who attend a private school, did not get food poisoning but the same could not be said about their classmates. However, the school administration swiftly dealt with the matter.
“It happened once or twice three years ago and following the incident, the school inspected how the employees prepared the meals as well as inspecting the surrounding perimeter. “Their inspection was then followed by an announcement, clarifying their findings and providing assurance that it won’t happen again - they're delivered thus far,” she said.
She believes that the lack of emphasis on the importance of being hygienic, cleanliness and the ‘can lah, can lah’ mindset is the reason why food poisoning happened in the first place. “I'm not pointing fingers, but it can be quite tiresome to prepare meals for hundreds of kids and somewhere somehow, careless mistakes happen or these food operators might take things lightly,” she said.
Although her children’s school no longer have problems with food poisoning, she is dissatisfied that such incidences constantly make the news.
“What's disturbing is the fact some have concluded that it's a norm or children have weak stomach. This is nonsense and related back to the careless mindset whereby 'if nothing severe has happened, or have yet to be caught, then it's ok'” she stressed.
Suggesting that routine inspection should be done and always ensuring that the level of cleanliness, quality is met, she also believes that the Ministry of Education should have a more hands-on role.
“I know it's demanding but keeping tabs on how schools with history of food poisoning are doing would be a start. “You're dealing with kids, and their health is of utmost importance,” she said.
Filepic: New Straits Times
Meanwhile, Sarah, 32, shared that her child was not so fortunate as she fell sick with four other classmates, adding that it was the second incident that happened at the public school but has not happened again after that.
“A Good Samaritan actually gave food and drinks to the school for two days, while concerned parents insisted on closing down the canteen to do an inspection,” she shared on how they dealt with the situation, while adding that the problem still persists because of the carefree attitude of the canteen operators.
“They do not comprehend the importance of providing healthy and safe meals for the kids. It's their responsibility to make sure that my children’s food is safe to eat and not simply to make their ends meet,” she expressed.
Following the unfortunate incidents, Sarah feels that not enough effort is being made to curb food poisoning from happening again at her children’s school.
“The Parent-Teacher Association (PIBG) is very much involved as of late and does a monthly inspection. The vendors have all been cooperative in ensuring they meet the standards.
“But surely more can be done. The teachers would eat the same meal as the children so I think teachers should also be equally vocal; is the food healthy? Is it safe for consumption? Is the surrounding perimeter clean and etc. Some teachers notice a problem happening to them, but aren't really attentive to problems that might affect the children,” she lamented.
As food poisoning was and is still an ongoing problem, the Health Ministry is taking the problem seriously with its Director-General Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah saying that hostel dining hall and school canteen operators will be fined and their premises shut down if they do not follow hygiene regulations that have been set.
He also said that apart from routine checks, checks on canteens and hostel dining halls as well as education institutions has also been increased to deal with the frequent food poisoning cases that happened last year.
Within a year up to June of 2016, 30,314 routine checks had been conducted covering 24,280 school and education institution canteens, including 6,034 hostel dining halls throughout the country. From the checks, 261 closing orders were issued under Section 11 of Food Act 1983
Proposal To Blacklist Those Responsible For Food Poisoning, Canteen Operator Shares Her View Following the recent food poisoning case in Balik Pulau, Penang where 42 secondary school students were sent to Balik Pulau Hospital for treatment, Consumer Association Penang (CAP) released a statement demanding authorities to blacklist hostel dining hall and school canteen operators to curb food poisoning in schools.
“Those who do not follow proper food handling procedures should be replaced. Instead of suspending such operators, they should not be allowed to operate at all. “Stern action must be taken against these canteen and hostel operators to improve the situation,” CAP president S.M. Mohamed Idris said in a press statement. However, this measure has been mentioned by Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid who had said that contracts of food service providers and operators at school canteens or hostel dining halls will be terminated immediately, in the event of food poisoning cases.
| 
Post time 22-3-2017 10:34 AM
变色卡
