Mass-poisoning in Mid-Day Meal at St. Joseph High School in Goa

It's not less than a week that we read about students in Bihar, being hospitalised due to the poisoned food supplied during the Mid-day meal. The incident has taken place with the grade 3 to 5 students in Goa at a Government-aided private institution, St. Joseph School.

 

About 23 students in the southwestern coastal state of Goa were hospitalised immediately after they got sick at lunch. The case on Food Poisoning has been registered at the same time.

Earlier this week, around 23 students, had died, and 25 students were in serious condition after they were affected by food poisoning in Bihar school.

According to an official, there were two cooks who were working at Bihar school. Officials believe the poison was an organophosphorus compound, a type of chemical that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says is commonly used in agriculture.

It's a nerve agent related to sarin gas, which is used in chemical warfare, the U.S. Health Department says. Exposure to a high dose can cause an irregular heartbeat, difficulty breathing, paralysis and seizures.

Bihar is one of India's poorest state. Experts have said the deaths shine a light on food safety in the country and have prompted discussion on how to improve national school food programs amid news that authorities warned of safety problems with Bihar's school meal program months ago.

Children Hospitalised

Children Hospitalised

Twenty children were hospitalised on Friday after they ate lunch at school in the state of Goa, days after 23 pupils died after eating food cooked in an eastern Indian school.

Mid Day meal in schools affect students

Mid Day meal in schools affect students

An education department official said the students were eating a meal comprising vegetable and lentil curry at the St. Joseph High School in Usgao in Ponda- sub-district.

Schools mid day meal kills children
 

Schools mid day meal kills children

Free lunches are hugely popular with poor families and educators see the meals as a way of increasing school attendance across India.

poor hygiene in school kitchens

poor hygiene in school kitchens

The midday meal scheme has been in place for decades, but children often suffer from food poisoning due to poor hygiene in school kitchens and the sometimes sub-standard quality of the food.

Children die due to poisoned food

Children die due to poisoned food

The price of food has soared in India over the last six years, causing increased hardship for the 455 million people estimated by the World Bank to live below the poverty line.

food poisoning in Bihar school

food poisoning in Bihar school

Earlier this week, around 23 students, had died, and 25 students were in serious condition after they were affected by food poisoning in Bihar school.

Children under First Aid

Children under First Aid

The students in Goa were rushed to a state-run hospital after they ate what is known in India as ‘midday meals' in school and fell ill. They were later released after first-aid.

On Friday, authorities in Bihar announced that a new committee would be formed to strengthen food preparation in rural schools. The state's mid-day meal director, R. Lakshmanan, said village communities will also help monitor standards of meals for schoolchildren.

However, the question is still there because the magnitude of this program is so huge that there are a number of challenges.

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