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The Department of Basic Education urges parents and schools to be vigilant of the foods that learners consume

The DBE has urged parents to check the food that children buy from vendors.

As the new academic year emerges, the Department of Basic Education (DBE) has urged all parents and schools to be vigilant by monitoring the food learners consume, in order to avoid the spate of food poisoning that occurred in 2024.

Last year, Mpumalanga reported over 50 food poisoning incidents that involved school learners. Most of them had allegedly consumed snacks from shops owned by foreign nationals.

In October, 24 learners from Enzani Primary School in Matsulu were rushed to Rob Ferreira Hospital after allegedly having eaten snacks bought from local spaza shops. Some of them complained of stomach pains, while others were vomiting. Fortunately, the learners received medical attention and their conditions were stabilised.

Before that, a similar incident took place in Marhagi Secondary School in Verena on October 16. Some 21 learners were rushed to the local clinic when they complained of stomach cramps and headaches.

The clinic later referred all the learners to the KwaMhlanga Hospital for observation. Reports were that they had food poisoning after eating some atchaar they had bought from vendors outside the school.

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To avoid last year’s high number of food poisoning cases, the DBE put up a notice on social media urging parents to play their part by ensuring that their children do not consume contaminated food.

“Check the food your children buy from vendors. Help create a safety net around our schools.”

It also urged principals, school governing bodies and management teams to monitor the food sold on or near the school premises. According to the DBE, a safe school is a successful school. The DBE has five strict hygiene practices that parents are advised to follow: keep clean, separate cooked food and raw food, cook thoroughly, keep food at a safe temperature and use safe water and raw materials.

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During the food poisoning outbreak last year, the Department of Education’s spokesperson, Gerald Sambo, urged all school management teams, school governing bodies and parents to be extra vigilant about what the learners eat both on and outside the school premises.

“Everyone must play a meaningful role in this regard and not take such matters for granted. Basic hygiene practices, such as the washing of hands after using restrooms or before eating, must be strictly adhered to at all times,” he said.

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