DepEd reminds cafeterias of food safety standards amid alleged poisoning in Cavite school

The Department of Education (DepEd) called on public and private schools to strictly enforce food safety standards in cafeterias in the wake of reports of food poisoning of at least 40 students in a Cavite school.

"While its existing orders on the operation and management of school canteens, including DepEd Order No. 8. s. 2007, cover public elementary and secondary schools, DepEd enjoins all private schools to mandate the strict enforcement of food safety standards in their cafeterias including the implementation of hygienic practices on food preparation, cooking, display, serving, and storage. They shall also train all canteen personnel on proper and safe handling of food," DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones said in a statement Friday night.

"DepEd likewise reiterates the establishment of monitoring teams in the regional and division offices to ensure adherence to food safety standards and the guidelines on operations of school canteens, to avoid food poisoning and other similar incidents that pose health risks to learners," Briones added.

On Thursday, reports surfaced about a suspected food poisoning incident involving at least 40 Junior High School students at the Imus Institute of Science and Technology–Dimasalang Campus.

DepEd said an incident report from the Health Services Department of the private Cavite school  signed by the school’s Vice President for Academic Affairs said that they are still awaiting further medical reports from the said hospitals. —LDF, GMA News