Lok Sabha Question No. 2046 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-19
Subject: Cases of Food Poisoning in Mid-Day-Meal Scheme
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Raksha Nikhil Khadse

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EDUCATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.-2046 ANSWERED ON- 19.12.2022

## CASES OF FOOD POISONING IN MID-DAY-MEAL SCHEME

## 2046.   SHRIMATI RAKSHA NIKHIL KHADSE:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  the  cases  of  food  poisoning  due  to  consumption  of Mid-Day-Meals have resurfaced as most of the students are back in school after pandemic restrictions  and  more  than  1000  cases  have  been  reported  in  the  current  year  2022;
- (b) if so, the details of such cases and the reasons therefor, State-wise;
- (c) whether the Government has found the reasons for such increasing cases of food poisoning; and
- (d) the steps taken by the Government to stop the low standards of Mid-Day-Meal?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

(SMT. ANNPURNA DEVI)

- (a) to (c): Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN) is implemented in partnership with States and UTs. The overall responsibility for providing cooked and nutritious mid-day meal to the eligible children lies with the State Governments  and  Union  Territory Administrations.    Accordingly,  complaints  of  different  categories,  whenever  received  are referred to the concerned State Governments/UT Administrations for taking necessary action. As per Action Taken Reports (ATRs) received from States and UTs, action such as issuing warning  against  the  official  responsible,  terminating  the  contract  of  concerned  NGOs  / Organisations, initiating  criminal  proceedings  and  imposing  penalties  against  the  defaulting persons/officials/organisations have been taken by the concerned State Governments and UT Administrations.    During  the  year  2022,  5  complaints  regarding  poor  /  substandard  food quality have been reported from States/UTs.  The State/UTs wise details of these complaints are given at Annexure.
- (d): The Government of India has issued guidelines on quality, safety and hygiene in school level kitchens to all the States and UTs to address the quality issue. These guidelines inter-alia provide for instructions to schools to procure Agmark quality and branded items for preparation of mid day meals, tasting of meals by 2-3 adult members of School Management Committee including at  least  one  teacher  before  serving  to  children  and  to  put  in  place  a  system  of  testing  of  food samples by accredited laboratories. Further, the MDM Rules, 2015 provide for mandatory testing of food samples by Government recognized laboratories to ensure that the meals meet nutritional standards and quality. The Government has also adopted an elaborate monitoring mechanism at Central, State and District levels to ensure quality food is served to children under the Scheme.

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ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (A)  TO  (C)  OF  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2046 FOR 19.12.2022 RAISED BY SHRIMATI RAKSHA NIKHIL  KHADSE , HON'BLE MP REGARDING CASES OF FOOD POISONING IN MID-DAY-MEAL SCHEME.

State-wise details of complaints regarding poor / substandard food quality during the year 2022 under PM POSHAN Scheme

| Sl. No.   | State/UT   |   Number of complaints reported during 2022 |
|-----------|------------|---------------------------------------------|
| 1         | Bihar      |                                           2 |
| 2         | Chandigarh |                                           1 |
| 3         | Karnataka  |                                           1 |
| 4         | Odisha     |                                           1 |
|           | Total      |                                           5 |