Abu Dhabi with ban; Insecure food out of schools

ABU DHABI : Eating and distribution of allergenic foods has been banned in Abu Dhabi schools. School food delivery services have also been suspended. The Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEC) has urged parents and school authorities to ensure that children bring healthy food to school. Schools are bound to implement the policy approved by Adec to ensure food safety and action will be taken against violators. Eating and distribution of unsafe foods, including allergenic nuts, in or around the school is prohibited.
Ordering food from hotels etc. and delivering it to school is also prohibited during or after school hours. The law has been tightened to ensure that children get nutritious food.
Adec stated that educational institutions are obliged to follow 6 basic principles such as ensuring healthy food and food safety, promoting food prepared at home, providing a variety of healthy food in school canteens, ensuring hygiene and food safety, ensuring that children do not eat food that causes allergies, and ensuring the safety of students with allergies.
It was also requested that food safety policies be made available on the school’s website so that employees, students, suppliers and parents can understand them. He also said that the opinion of the students should be taken into account to improve the food in the school canteens.
Other recommendations are to keep separate records of students with allergies, ask the child and family about the food that may cause allergies, give medicine immediately in case of allergies, and inform the parents.
Steps should be taken to reduce food waste in schools and dispose of them promptly. Bringing disposable products to school should be discouraged. Adec also warned that strict action will be taken against violators.