Food samples from the Government Urdu Higher Primary School in DJ Halli sent for testing to the State Public Health Institute (PHI) have been found to be contaminated with E.Coli and Enterobacter . Certain strains of these bacteria can cause food poisoning and may even be life-threatening.
Nearly 360 children from the school had been rushed to Dr. Ambedkar hospital on Friday after they complained of stomach ache and vomiting sensation during class hours. They had earlier consumed midday meals served to them at the school, supplied by Akshaya Patra Foundation of ISKCON.
Samples of plain rice and sambhar were collected and sent to PHI for bacteriological analysis. The presence of E.Coli and Enterobacter were confirmed.
PHI Deputy Director Jaikumar, who is also the designated officer for Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA) in the State, told The Hindu on Tuesday that the presence of E.Coli in the food samples indicated that there was “handling contamination.”
“Although a lizard had fallen in the rice served to the students, the report does not suggest the presence of Salmonella. This rules out the possibility of any bacteria having been released from the lizard. Lizards are a carrier of Salmonella ,” Dr. Jaikumar said.
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.
Quoting the laboratory findings, sources in the State Surveillance Unit said the presence of E.Coli bacteria clearly indicated that the food was unfit for human consumption.
“Under the Food Safety and Standards Act, legal action has to be initiated against Akshaya Patra Foundation of ISKCON, which had supplied food to the school,” a source said.
Meanwhile, parents in the school refused to allow their children to eat food for the third day in a row in view of Friday’s incident. The headmaster, Zaheera Khanum, said that a meeting would be convened with parents to convince them that the food is safe for consumption of children.
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.
