Gyeonggi-do Expands 'Food Poisoning Prevention Management' for School Meals and Food Service Establishments

Gyeonggi-do inspection team is conducting a hygiene inspection of the cafeteria. Photo by Gyeonggi-do

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi Province is promoting food poisoning prevention management activities to create a safe meal service and dining environment.

First, the province plans to establish an emergency contact network with related organizations such as city/county offices and education offices for rapid response in case of food poisoning outbreaks, and operate a joint response system for mass food poisoning incidents. Regular simulation drills will also be conducted.

In addition, to strengthen food safety management in meal services and dining, year-round comprehensive inspections will be carried out jointly with education offices and city/county offices targeting collective meal service facilities such as schools, kindergartens, social welfare facilities, and companies where there is a high risk of patient occurrence.

In particular, schools, kindergartens, and food ingredient suppliers will create a safe meal service environment through joint inspections before the spring and fall semesters. Last year, the province inspected 8,322 places including schools, social welfare facilities, and industrial sites, and detected violations in 33 places.

Furthermore, food poisoning prevention education for social welfare facility cooking workers, consulting for restaurants handling food poisoning risk items, and periodic food poisoning prevention publicity for residents will continue. The restaurant hygiene rating system, currently operating in about 8,000 places, will be gradually expanded.

The province evaluates 64 items including the hygiene status of seating areas, guest rooms, and kitchens, and assigns hygiene ratings to those scoring 80 points or above, issuing certificates and signboards.

Kim Jang-hyun, head of the Food Safety Division of the province, said, "This year as well, we will thoroughly manage food hygiene to prevent food poisoning and strengthen cooperation with related organizations," and urged, "Please be sure to practice the three major food poisoning prevention tips: washing hands, eating cooked food, and boiling food."