Thiruvananthapuram: The DPI office has asked all schools that are part of the mid-day meal programme to get registration from the food safety commissionerate.
Schools have also been instructed to conduct a health check every three months to ensure that those who cook food under the mid-day meal programme did not suffer from contagious diseases.
These were part of the circular issued to schools on the hygiene of the food prepared under the mid-day scheme. As per the circular, a senior teacher of the school should be given charge of the programme.
A school feeding committee with the doctor of the nearby primary health centre and a representative of the students should be constituted in each school.
The principal of the school or the teacher in charge of scheme should inspect the food to be distributed daily. The provisions for preparing the food should be purchased only from an outlet with licence from the food safety commissionerate.
If the authorities found that the quality of the products supplied was low, it should be informed to the nearest food safety officer.
Workers with contagious diseases should be asked to stay away from cooking food and they should be instructed not to scratch their head while preparing food.
They should also be asked not to use artificial nails or jewellery while preparing food and should be directed to wear clean clothes.
