SHAH ALAM: The Selangor Health Department has advised the parties involved in the Free Breakfast Programme (PSP) for school students to follow the food safety and quality standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The department’s director, Datuk Dr Khalid Ibrahim (pix), said this includes proper hygiene, separating raw ingredients from cooked food, good cooking practices, keeping food at a safe temperature, and using safe water and raw materials.
“The food provided under the PSP should be hygienic and safe. Food safety during supply, preparation and storage must be taken seriously to prevent foodborne illnesses, especially food poisoning,” he said in a statement here today.
Khalid also urged students and teachers to practice the concept of ‘look, smell and taste’ before consuming the food provided under the programme.
“This practice can at least be among the mechanisms to save oneself from getting food poisoning,” he said.
In the statement, Khalid also welcomed the implementation of the programme which was deemed beneficial for students.
“The objective of the programme that promotes a healthy lifestyle and stimulates students’ growth in a better way makes it beneficial to all students,” he said.
The Ministry of Education (MOE) in a statement earlier announced that phase one the PSP would commence at 100 primary schools across the country on Jan 20, involving 37,000 students and 1,600 teachers with an estimated cost of RM22 million. — Bernama
