Food safety in schools

WITH classes in public elementary and high schools having resumed, the Department of Education (DepEd) should waste no time tightening policies that could help in promoting knowledge and compliance to food safety regulations in schools. It should make healthy and safe school environment a flagship program.

By fortifying existing policies and launching fresh initiatives on food safety, we can expect reduced number of injuries and deaths due to food poisoning in schools.

Among the policies that have to be revisited and reinforced include DepEd Order No. 52, Series of 2008 on the “Compliance with DepEd Policies on Food Safety in Schools,” DepEd Order No. 8, Series of 2007 on “Revised Implementing Guidelines on the Operation and Management of School Canteens in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools” and DepEd Order No. 14, Series of 2005 on “Instructions to Ensure Consumption of Nutritious and Safe Foods in Schools.”

DepEd may also revive the “Food Safety Awareness Week” promoted by the late Education secretary Andrew Gonzalez many years back. Then Secretary Gonzalez issued DECS Memorandum No. 435, Series of 1999, in support of Presidential Proclamation No. 160, Series of 1999,”to reduce and ultimately eradicate food poisoning and foodborne illnesses” specifically in schools and communities.

To prevent food poisoning due to bacterial or chemical contamination, school administrators, teachers and personnel are advised to adopt, popularize and enforce essential precautionary and preventive measures. These measures should build on the “five keys to safer food” as espoused by the World Health Organization: 1) keep food clean, 2) separate raw and cooked foods, 3) cook food thoroughly, 4) keep food at safe temperatures, and 3) use safe water and raw materials.

Also, schools are advised to ban use of hazardous products in school facilities such as toxic cleaning agents, pesticides and laboratory chemicals, promote safe alternatives, including non-chemical substitutes, and ensure environmentally-sound management of all chemicals and discards.

Safe and healthy meals help students go, grow and glow.