[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi Province will conduct a comprehensive joint inspection by October 28 targeting 6,704 school, kindergarten, and daycare center cafeterias with 50 or more meal recipients to establish a safe meal environment.
This inspection is a public-private joint effort involving 31 cities and counties, the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education, and consumer food hygiene inspectors.
The province announced a rigorous inspection, warning that with full in-person attendance, there is a risk of mass food poisoning incidents occurring in schools, kindergartens, and daycare centers.
The main inspection items include ▲ hygienic handling standards of food ingredients and compliance by collective meal service operators ▲ cleaning and disinfection management of meal facilities and utensils ▲ hygiene management at each stage of food ingredient supply, distribution, purchase, storage, cooking, and serving.
The province plans to collect and send food suspected of posing a risk of food poisoning to the Gyeonggi Provincial Institute of Health and Environment for testing. Additionally, it will activate a school meal food poisoning response council to maintain a cooperative network among related organizations for collective food poisoning response.
Ryu Young-cheol, Director of the Provincial Health and Wellness Bureau, said, "We will strive to create a safe educational environment free from mass food poisoning through thorough joint inspections," and urged, "Please be sure to practice the three key food poisoning prevention rules at home as well: washing hands, eating cooked food, and boiling food."
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