Lizard found in mid-day meal in Odisha

A dead lizard was found in the mid-day meal at a primary school in Odisha Friday, an official said.

The dead lizard was detected in the cooked rice during a routine inspection by the school head master at the government primary school in Regedi in Ganjam district, about 180 km from here, before it was served to the children, a state government official said.

The meal, which is supplied by a voluntary organisation, was cancelled immediately.

Last month, a dead earthworm was allegedly found in the food in the same school.

"The school staff told us that they found a dead lizard. We are shocked because this is the second such incident reported within a week. There may be some foul play and a thorough investigation would be conducted," block development officer Subhransu Mishra told IANS.

Odisha provides mid-day meals to over five million school children between the age of six to twelve years and supplementary nutrition to about two million pre-school children of ages up to six years.

While mid-day meals are provided in schools, cooked food is being provided to pre-school children in anganwadi centres (state-run daycare centres).