Seven of 80 mid-day meal samples passed food standard test

Only seven out of 80 samples of mid-day meals served in schools under North Delhi Municipal Corporation in the last one year passed the minimum requirements for both adequate protein and calorie content.
The figure was presented before the NDMC House during a special meeting today.
Officials said the food was not found to be contaminated or adulterated but it lacked prescribed protein and calorie content.
Over four lakh students are being served the mid-day meal in around 775 schools under NDMC.
Presenting the official data, Leader of the House Mahendra Nagpal demanded to know how the NGOs supplying mid- day meal were being allowed to run despite this "high failure rate".

"The report contains details of samples of all meals prepared by all NGOs working in the area. I want to know what action has been taken in this case," he said.

According to the official reply furnished before the House, the samples were taken during the past year of food prepared by Maitri Research, Stri Shakti, Indcare Trust, M/S Surya Charitable and Welfare Society and ISCKON.
While in some cases, the samples passed either protein or calorie content standard, only in seven cases did they pass both the test.
All the samples, however, tested negative for E.Coli and Salmonella. In his reply, Commissioner P K Gupta contended that none of the samples were found to be adulterated.

Salmonella is the name of a group of bacteria which is most common cause of foodborne diseases like diarrhoea. E. Coli is also a type of bacteria which also causes diarrhoea.
"The E.Coli and Salmonella content has not been found even in a single sample. The only deficiency has been found in protein and calorific content, which is a nation-wide issue and not specific to NDMC. The government is working to improve the menu and as soon as we receive the guidelines in the case, we will implement them," he said.