KUCHING: A clean canteen should be free from vermin like rats and cockroaches.
“These pests are dirty and carry diseases through the germs and bacteria they transmit through their skin and fur. Among the disease spread by rats is Leptospirosis,” said David Lau Chien Leong, deputy director for Safety and Food Quality Section of the state Health Department.
Lau said the Health Department recorded a total of 11 cases of food poisoning during school sessions from January to June this year compared to 13 cases in the state for the whole of 2012.
“The factors that contributed to food poisoning are lack of freshness in the food and lack of knowledge on what contributes to food poisoning,” he said at the launch of the first Choral Speaking Competition on Food Safety among secondary schools in Kuching and Padawan. It was held at the Education Dept Auditorium at Jalan Bako yesterday.
“To avoid getting food poisoning, students should not patronise dirty canteens and the school authorities should be alert,” he said.
Lau said his department is serious in its inspection of dirty premises and urged the public to choose clean eateries.
He asked students with awareness of food safety to avoid food poisoning by informing their parent if eateries are dirty.
“Food poisoning not only happen in school but in other places,” he said.
“Every year, we make efforts to reduce food poisoning by distributing information on food safety, conduct talks and inspect eateries. We often have health inspectors, teachers and headmaster inspecting the school canteen to check on food safety.”
He hoped the competition will enhance participants’ knowledge of food safety and how to avoid unhygienic ways.
Lau urged students to observe how food is handled and prepared.
“The food you consume should be fresh and be well kept before it is cooked and eaten within four hours to ensure it is not contaminated by bacteria,” he said.
He hoped the enlightened participants of the choral competition on food safety spread the message on how to avoid food poisoning.
Also present were the deputy director of education Vendery Milah Nata, heading the sector for private and special education.