DepEd asked to adopt stricter rules on food safety

Following at least two recent food poisoning incidents in schools, an environmental group urged the Department of Education to be tough in enforcing food safety rules. The EcoWaste Coalition suggested that the DepEd focus on promoting knowledge and compliance with food safety regulations in schools. “By fortifying existing policies and launching fresh initiatives on food safety, we can expect reduced number of injuries and deaths due to food poisoning in schools," EcoWaste president Roy Alvarez said in a blog post. Alvarez also called on the DepEd to revive "Food Safety Awareness Week" promoted by the late Education Secretary Andrew Gonzalez in 1999. It also urged schools to ban hazardous products in school facilities such as toxic cleaning agents, pesticides and laboratory chemicals. Schools must also promote safe alternatives, including non-chemical substitutes, and ensure environmentally-sound management of all chemicals and discards, it added. The latest incident involved at least 18 students in Quezon City, who were rushed to a hospital after eating Java rice for lunch. EcoWaste noted several other incidents had occurred since June 14, including incidents in Larion Bajo Elementary School (Tuguegarao City), Makati High School Annex I (Makati City) and St. Mary’s College (Quezon City). "Over 65 students were poisoned by accident, including two young fatalities from Tuguegarao City: kindergarten pupils Eloisa Ballad and Jessica Mae Bangayan," it said. Review DepEd orders EcoWaste particularly called for a review of:

• Department of Education Order 52 (2008) on “Compliance with DepEd Policies on Food Safety in Schools";
• DepEd Order No. 8 (2007) on “Revised Implementing Guidelines on the Operation and Management of School Canteens in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools," and
• DepEd Order No. 14 (2005) on “Instructions to Ensure Consumption of Nutritious and Safe Foods in Schools."

The group also advised school administrators, teachers and personnel to adopt, popularize and enforce essential precautionary and preventive measures. It said these measures should be based on thee "five keys to safer food" as espoused by the World Health Organization:

• keep food clean
• separate raw and cooked foods
• cook food thoroughly
• keep food at safe temperatures
• use safe water and raw materials

— LBG, GMA News