Bangalore: Nearly 360 children from the the Government Urdu Higher Primary School in DJ Halli school had been rushed to Dr. Ambedkar hospital on Friday after they complained of stomach ache and vomiting sensation after consuming midday meals served to them at the school, supplied by Akshaya Patra Foundation of ISKCON.
The food samples were sent for testing to the State Public Health Institute (PHI), who have reverted with the report that the food was contaminated with E.Coli and Enterobacter. Certain strains of these bacteria can cause food poisoning and may even be life-threatening.
PHI Deputy Director Jaikumar, who is also the designated officer for Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA) in the State, told a bangalore daily that the presence of E.Coli in the food samples indicated that there was “handling contamination.”
Initial reports had suggested that the food poisioning was due to a lizard which was found in the rice, but the PHI ruled this out as salmonella, a bacteria released by lizards was not found.
Sources in the Bangalore Urban District Surveillance Unit said a detailed report, based on the laboratory findings, had been forwarded to State Surveillance Officer Venkatesh and Bangalore Urban District Health Officer (DHO) M. Rajani on Tuesday. Dr Rajani said she is yet to get the report.
Parents of children studying at the school meanhwile, have not allowed their children to eat school meals for the third day running. It is learnt that the headmaster, Zaheera Khanum, will be convening a meeting with parents on the subject.
The Department of Public Instruction and Bangalore Urban Zilla Panchayat has issued a notice to Akshaya Patra Foundation to which it is yet to respond.
