Gyeonggi-do Health and Environment Research Institute Expands Safety Inspections of School Meal Ingredients

The Gyeonggi-do Institute of Health and Environment will expand safety inspections of school meal ingredients this year.

Safety inspections of school meal ingredients involve testing agricultural and marine products, processed foods, and other ingredients for radioactivity, heavy metals, and pesticide residues before they are delivered to schools, with cooperation from Gyeonggi Province, the Gyeonggi Office of Education, and the School Meal Support Center.

This year, the Institute of Health and Environment will increase inspections to a total of 2,490 cases, including 2,090 for radioactivity, 300 for heavy metals, and 100 for pesticide residues. In addition to school meals, safety inspections will also be conducted on ingredients supplied to six meal facilities serving daycare centers.

A researcher is conducting a safety inspection of school meal ingredients.

An official from the Institute of Health and Environment stated, "With the new school semester beginning, parents have great concerns about their children's food. We will do our best to ensure children's health by expanding safety inspections of school meal ingredients before delivery so that students can eat with peace of mind."

Meanwhile, last year, a total of 2,112 inspections were conducted on agricultural products (rice, fruits, etc.), marine products (mackerel, Spanish mackerel, shrimp, etc.), and processed foods (soy sauce, red pepper paste, etc.) used in school meal facilities, including 1,750 for radioactivity, 319 for heavy metals, and 43 for pesticide residues, all of which met the standards and regulations.