SHAH ALAM, October 3 – Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam wants the Education Ministry (KPM) to blacklist operators of canteen and school hostel food hall that are involved in food poisoning cases.
He said the increase in food poisoning cases every year involving school students needed to be viewed seriously to ensure food prepared for the young generation was always clean, safe and healthy.
As the ministry responsible to appoint the food providers, he hoped KPM would impose strict conditions, including cancelling contracts and not re-appointing canteen operators with such past records.
“Most of the incidents (food poisoning) occur because canteen operators do not comply with the various conditions set and do not give emphasis on the cleanliness and health aspects of food preparation,” he told reporters here today.
Earlier Dr Subramaniam officiated the national level 2014 Clean, Safe and Healthy Canteen Award presentation, which was also attended by Second Deputy Education Minister P. Kamalanathan.
Health ministry’s statistics showed that an increase in food poisoning cases over the last few years with 3,822 cases in 2010, 3,959 cases (2011), 4,305 cases (2012) and 5,017 cases in 2013.
Dr Subramaniam said from January until August this year, 12,122 food poisoning cases were reported natinwide, including 43 percent or 5,265 cases suspected to be caused by food prepared in canteens or school hostel food halls.Data also indicated that for the first seven months of this year, 98 out of the 9,780 canteen and hostel kitchens were ordered to be closed for unsatisfactory level of cleanliness.
– BERNAMA
