Guidelines to ensure safe school milk

NST: KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry is preparing guidelines for all manufacturers and handlers of milk for the school milk programme to ensure there are no more cases of food poisoning.
These guidelines, said its parliamentary secretary, Datuk Lee Kah Choon, would ensure the milk was properly packed and distributed.
"We want to assure parents that all contaminated batches of milk have been seized and destroyed under Section 4(8) of the Food Act 1983. There is no cause for worry," he said.
On May 16, 100 pupils of SJK (T) Vallambrosa in Klang fell ill after drinking milk, making Selangor the fifth state to be hit by the problem.
The next day, Sarawak was affected, with five pupils of SK Pajar Sejingkat being admitted to hospital after drinking the milk.
On May 5, the ministry had found that 35 per cent of samples taken from milk supplied to schools in Perlis, Kedah, Pahang and Terengganu were contaminated.
Lee said the ministry was working with the Education Ministry to educate canteen operators on the importance of cleanliness and personal hygiene when handling food.
As of April 30, there were 2,393 cases of food poisoning reported nationwide, a 38 per cent increase from last year. Of the 2,393 cases this year, 67 per cent affected were schoolchildren.
Lee said there were several factors that triggered food poisoning.
Often, he said, cooked food was prepared in an unhygienic manner and kept too long at temperatures conducive for germs to multiply.
"Sometimes food is also not thoroughly cooked and served only half-cooked.
"Food must be stored either in temperatures below 5° Celsius or above 60°C to ensure there is no contamination. Also, cooked food should not be stored with uncooked food."
Often, Lee added, handlers were not aware of the need for personal hygiene and a clean kitchen environment.
"We have set up a task force to investigate at which point the milk was contaminated — whether at the stage of manufacturing, transporting, storing or the manner it was handled," he said.
Asked what could be done to prevent food poisoning from food brought to school by students, he said: "Teachers and parents must do their part to teach students how to properly store and transport food to avoid any form of contamination.
"We (the ministry) cannot prevent students from bringing their own food, neither can we stop them from sharing it with friends.
"So, the only way is for us to educate students on the proper handling methods to ensure their food is safe."