Kisean Joseph
The Central Board of Health (CBH) staged a two-day training programme for more than 50 school vendors to ensure the safety and quality of food served in and around public schools.
The training took place on August 20 and 21 and aimed to enhance the knowledge and skills of school vendors in food handling and safety.
Julienne Mannix, the principal public health inspector at CBH, highlighted the importance of regular checks and follow-ups to maintain food safety standards.
She emphasised CBH’s commitment to conducting these training sessions every summer, covering various aspects such as food safety, cleaning, and disinfection for custodian staff to ensure a safe and healthy environment in schools.
Mannix also emphasised the necessity of periodic checks to ensure that food vendors adhere to prescribed protocols, highlighting the positive reception and willingness of the attendees to comply with the standards.
Looking ahead, Mannix mentioned upcoming events targeting schools before their reopening in early September, particularly focusing on providing food safety training for teachers involved in activities that may include handling and selling food during the school year.
In conclusion, Mannix stressed the importance of taking the training seriously and implementing the acquired knowledge to prevent potential foodborne illnesses.
She encouraged all participants to apply best practices in their daily operations, ensuring a safer and healthier food environment within the schools.
Mannix said, “Take it seriously. Be mindful. Because you don’t want to have a situation where you have an outbreak or somebody is ill because of a foodborne illness.”
