'Food poisoning' sparks calls for increased focus on school nutrition
There are growing calls for sufficient funding and resources to be allocated to the National School Nutrition Programme.
The calls follow several incidents of suspected food poisoning affecting children, especially in Gauteng.
The Department of Education in the province confirmed on Tuesday that 74 pupils had been admitted to hospital with suspected food poisoning.
In Soweto, Gauteng officials on Sunday confirmed the death of a sixth child from a suspected food poisoning incident in Naledi.
Three children also died in the Eastern Cape, although the producer of the porridge they consumed found no traces of contaminants in the product.
The incidents have ignited a discussion on the significance and necessity of school nutrition programmes, particularly in rural and informal communities.
It also comes on World Food Day, which is marked on Wednesday.
The National School Nutrition Programme is a national school feeding scheme that provides over 9 million pupils with nutritious meals every day at school.
Food advocacy group HEALA said one in four children is underdeveloped due to poor nutrition.
HEALA’s Dr Petronell Kruger told Jacaranda FM News that proper nutrition is a fundamental indicator of good health, and it’s critical to protect diets in areas where access to healthcare is strained due to geographic or funding issues.
“Rural areas are often severely underserviced and cannot properly offer the medical support needed for diet-related conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure,” Kruger said.
Kruger emphasised the need to debunk the stigma surrounding school feeding schemes, as it discourages pupils from accessing this vital programme due to the fear of being judged.
“At the moment, children are served at around R7 a day, which is ridiculous. However, the Department of Education has nutritionists in developing the feeding scheme. School teachers and food handlers also contribute to the development of the feeding scheme,” she explained.
Gauteng Education spokesperson Steve Mabona told Jacaranda FM News that the National School Nutrition Programme is not facing any major crises in the province.
This statement comes despite concerns raised about the programme’s effectiveness and potential areas for improvement, such as food safety and quality concerns.
ALSO READ
