Delhi govt orders inspection of midday meal kitchens

The Delhi government has directed its designated officers to visit all midday meal kitchens in their respective districts to check hygiene level there.
"If the hygiene was found to be lacking, shut down notices would be served on those kitchens," a government directive said.
The move comes in the backdrop of a dead rat being found in the midday meal served in a school due to which nine children were taken ill.
As per the order, issued by the Food Safety Commissioner, all designated officers along with their Food Safety Officers have been directed to visit all midday meal kitchens and transportation facilities falling under their district to check hygiene and cleanliness as per the standards laid down under FSS, 2006 and Rules and Regulations 2011.

"After inspection, they are directed to fill up an inspection format completely and if required improvement notices be issued, if hygiene is found to be lacking, kitchen may be ordered to be shut down," read the directive.
Besides, NABL (National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories) accredited empanelled private labs have been directed to pick surveillance samples from the kitchen allotted and take them straight to their labs for testing.

"Also water meant for cooking be lifted and tested. All kitches to be sampled for full testing including microbiological test," the directive said.
Nine students of a government school in the city were taken ill on February 16 after consuming midday meal which allegedly had a dead rat in it.

The meal was served at Government Boys' Senior Secondary School in Deoli area, and students were rushed to Madan Mohan Malviya Hospital.