Kathmandu Metropolitan City Intensifies Food Hygiene Checks at School and Hospital Canteens

Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has started enforcing stricter food hygiene standards in community school and hospital canteens. KMC Food Technician Bharti Adhikari informed that the metropolis has begun simultaneously advancing capacity-building programs and monitoring to ensure food hygiene for consumers among food business operators.

According to Adhikari, a joint team from the Metropolitan City and the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control has been regularly monitoring canteens in community schools and hospitals.

KMC stated that monitoring has already been conducted at canteens including Pashupati Mitra Secondary School Chabahil's (Janaki Kitchen) canteen and the kitchen preparing students' midday meals, Shram National Secondary School Kumarigal, Shivapuri Secondary School Maharajgunj's (Namo Food Court) canteen, Ratna Rajya School Baneshwor's canteen, KMC Hospital Sinamangal's (Green Buds Bakery Cafe) canteen, and Bharosa Hospital Baneshwor's (Sudurpashchim Bhojanalaya and Khaja Ghar).

KMC has already provided training on food hygiene and nutrition to 45 individuals, including 23 school nurses, to improve the quality of children's health, nutrition, and the midday meal program. According to the KMC Food Technician Officer, the training topics included food hygiene practices, risks of foodborne diseases, safe food handling, management of nutritious midday meals, and the role of school nurses in disease prevention.

The Government of Nepal initiated the midday meal program from the fiscal year 2077/078 for early childhood development up to grade 5, and from fiscal year 2079/80 up to grade 6. KMC provides midday meals to students up to grade 10.

During monitoring, suggestions were given for improvement of shortcomings, and if uncontrolled use of unwholesome items was found, they were destroyed under the responsibility of the concerned person. Negligence in cleanliness was found in school canteens. Cloths and food items were found stored together. Irregularities found include not covering food items, improper use of dustbins, and lack of structural improvement in the kitchen, according to KMC.

The TPI value of the fried oil used in the canteens was also found to be against standards. Common problems reported include not covering food items, neglecting floor management and cleanliness in the kitchen, preparing food and washing utensils in the same place, and not paying attention to fire safety equipment.