PARENTS may want to rethink about giving lunch money to their kids instead of preparing food as a study made by the health department revealed six out of 10 food handlers at canteens have infections that might be passed on to students.

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Health Undersecretary Yolanda Oliveros on the launching of Del Monte Superkid School Nutrition and Physical Activity Program (Snap) at Hyatt Hotel in Manila reported that food handlers usually introduce biological hazards to students.

Oliveros said food handlers pose a problem, especially if they do not protect themselves. "These problems usually arise if the food handlers suffer from specified diseases; or from organisms/eggs on the food handler's skin; or in their intestines/feces; or by cross contamination after handling raw materials."

The Department of Health (DOH) study showed that 61.8 percent of food handlers in Metro Manila pose disease-carrying agents.

Oliveros said they had recommended that food handlers carry protection such as gloves and must adhere to safety standards like washing their hands regularly.

The same report also identified "helminthiasis" or a disease in which a part of the body is infested with worms such as pinworm, roundworm or tapeworm as the most common ailment for students, followed by diarrhea and bronchitis.

The DOH stated that while the government has addressed the problem of access to safe water supply, there are still 17 million Filipinos who are without access to it.

Oliveros said up to 58 percent of groundwater intended for drinking are contaminated with coliform bacteria and needs treatment.

The DOH official said 48 percent of water pollutants came from domestic source. Out of the 421 rivers in the country 50 rivers were polluted and 40 were biologically dead.

The report was made as part of the launching of the Del Monte Superkids Snap Program, in coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd) and DOH.

The said program is aimed at providing various modules to teachers that would be used during homeroom and physical education classes, where not only will the students be taught about proper food eating habits and proper sanitation, but also conducting physical education sessions to boost the students well being.

The modules cover four topics including: general health, nutrition, food safety and physical exercises and activities.

A fifth module on recipes by Del Monte was provided to canteens.

Seventy public and private schools with a target of 130,000 students will undergo the first batch of the program, with children as young a pre-school up to grade six would be asked to participate on the program to be launched today, Monday. (AH/Sunnex)

For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Manila.

(November 10, 2008 issue)
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