Chungnam, Kindergarten and Daycare 'Substandard Food Service' Detected and Subject to Administrative Action

[Asia Economy (Naepo) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] Chungnam Province announced on the 6th that it conducted hygiene inspections last month targeting group meal service facilities such as kindergartens and daycare centers within the province and identified 4 violators.

The inspection was carried out as a preventive measure against meal-related accidents, keeping in mind recent incidents of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli infections at kindergartens in other regions.

The inspection targeted 637 group meal service facilities installed in kindergartens and daycare centers with 50 or more people within Chungnam. The province formed joint on-site inspection teams with each city and county, consumer hygiene monitors, education support offices, and the Children's Meal Management Support Center to thoroughly examine the overall management of these group meal service facilities.

During this process, 4 facilities were cited for violations such as failure to preserve food samples and lack of disinfection devices for groundwater. The province plans to impose fines on the offending facilities and take administrative actions such as ordering facility improvements.

Lee Jeong-gu, Director of the Low Birthrate and Health Welfare Office of the province, said, “This inspection was conducted to ensure that meals are safely provided to young children, who are a vulnerable health group,” and added, “The province will continue to cooperate with related organizations to ensure thorough hygiene management at kindergartens and daycare centers.”