Centre Addresses Andhra Pradesh School Food Poisoning: State Responsibility and Safety Measures Implemented

The Centre announced on Monday that it has acknowledged multiple incidents of food and water contamination in government school hostels across Andhra Pradesh, prompting special inspections of all state-operated hostels following reports of student illnesses.

In response to an unstarred question presented in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Education Jayant Chaudhary explained that while the central government implements the Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM-POSHAN) scheme in collaboration with states and Union Territories, the responsibility for daily operations of hostels and school kitchens remains with state governments.

The minister indicated that the reported incidents involved unclean RO plants, stagnant water in tanks, and unsanitary kitchen conditions. According to information provided by state authorities, affected students were promptly hospitalized and subsequently discharged after receiving appropriate treatment.

The Centre emphasized that comprehensive safety, hygiene, and quality guidelines already exist under the PM-POSHAN scheme. These guidelines include directives for procuring Agmark-certified ingredients, training cook-cum-helpers, testing food samples through accredited laboratories, ensuring meal tasting by school management committee members before serving, and implementing handwashing protocols for students.

The guidelines also encourage states to incorporate locally produced millets, vegetables, and condiments into meals and to organize cooking competitions that promote diverse and nutritious food options.

In response to these contamination incidents, the Andhra Pradesh government has issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to enhance hostel safety standards. The SOP addresses child safety, food and water safety, water tank cleaning, maintenance of RO plants, hygiene practices, incident reporting, and crisis management. Additional guidelines have been established specifically for ensuring the safety and well-being of girls residing in Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs).

To support food safety initiatives, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has developed a Food Safety Guidebook for teachers and students and created a digital playlist titled "How to check for adulteration." Mobile Food Safety on Wheels vans have been deployed to conduct training and awareness sessions in remote areas.

The Ministry added that states observe Poshan Maah and Poshan Pakhwada annually, organizing various nutrition-related activities, hygiene practices, and healthy eating habits through rallies, school competitions, and awareness campaigns.

While the Centre reiterated the importance of adhering to PM-POSHAN guidelines, it did not announce any new centralized inspection mechanism, emphasizing that operational responsibility continues to rest with state administrations.