Sancta Maria School horror: Kitchen plagued with food safety violations, show cause notice soon

Hyderabad: An inspection that was conducted in the kitchen area at Sancta Maria International School, Serilingampally in Hyderabad, was found to be riddled with severe food safety violations. The inspection was conducted on September 14 at around 4 pm after the Hyderabad mayor’s office received multiple complaints regarding the school’s alleged poor maintenance standards. The inspection was intended to assess the school’s adherence to food safety and hygiene regulations.

The food safety officers from circles 20, 21, and 22 conducted the inspection and said that a show-cause notice would be issued to the school’s management for the violations identified during the inspection.

Speaking about the inspection, Sudarshan Reddy, additional director of the Food Safety Department, said, “The Hyderabad mayor’s office received multiple complaints on the poor maintenance of kitchen utilities at Sancta Maria School. Based on the number of complaints received, an inspection was carried out, and many violations were found. The kitchen was poorly maintained. Each complaint will be dealt with seriously.” The school store in charge was Simanchal Nahak, as per the data present.

Further, the officials said that adjudication proceedings will also be filed before the additional collector (revenue), Ranga Reddy District, to address the need for imposing penalties related to the violations.

The safety violations in the preparation of food were:

Kitchen equipment: The inspection revealed that the dosa-making equipment was constructed from corrosive material, making it difficult to clean properly.

Safety hazards: The kitchen floors in the oil frying area were reported to be dangerously slippery.

Food materials: Wrapping materials in the kitchen were not of food-grade quality.

Cooking oil: The oil used for frying was not replaced periodically, as evident by the dark-coloured oil being used for frying.

Improper segregation: Raw food materials and cooked food were not properly segregated.

The safety violations in and around the kitchen area include:

Stagnant water: The edges of the kitchen floor were not cleaned properly as the inspectors found sections of water lying stagnant.

Ill-maintained equipment: Kitchen equipment was not maintained as per manufacturer instructions.

Lack of monitoring devices: Food measuring and monitoring devices were absent.

Improper storage: Dustbins without lids were found in the kitchen and canteen areas, and the chimneys lacked cleaning and were greasy.

Used clothes causing contamination: Worker clothes were seen drying on plates used for children.

Improper food storage: Idly batter and pudding in cold storage lacked proper date labels. Cut vegetables and various dry food items were stored without lids.

Expired products in use: An expired packet of Rajshree Vadapav was found. The product was packed in October 2022 and expired in June 2023.

The food inspectors also found that the school did not have proper documentation regarding various protocols required while handling and preparing food.

Lack of procedure checklist: The school has not maintained any records that showed that the establishment followed regular pest control, cleaning, and replacement of oil used for frying.

Workers’ health conditions: The inspectors did not find any medical certificates, necessary for declaring the health of workers handling the food.

No food safety supervisor: Despite nearly 45 workers handling the food, the establishment lacked a designated food safety supervisor to oversee all the operations.

Parents Voice Concerns Over Children's Health

Numerous parents have raised their voices in concern and frustration over the deteriorating food safety standards at Sancta Maria School, citing a disturbing pattern of health issues among their children. Stomach pains, frequent complaints of uncooked food, and even compromising children's health have become key points of contention as parents question the quality and safety of the school's meals.

The mounting dissatisfaction has prompted calls for urgent action, with many parents demanding either improved food safety measures or the option to send meals from home to ensure their children's well-being while at school.

The inspectors collected samples of red chilli sauce, vinegar, and cooking oil, among other items, from the Sancta Maria kitchen, under the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and Rules and Regulations, 2011. These samples will undergo analysis at the State Food Laboratory in Hyderabad, and appropriate action will be initiated based on the report.