The Ministry of Health has completed a mass inspection of school canteens in the Mangystau Region. According to its findings, numerous violations of sanitary and epidemiological requirements were identified in 65 out of 66 school food units.
As reported by the ministry's press service, authorised bodies imposed 57 fines totalling more than 18 million tenge, issued 60 orders, suspended 62 employees from work, and referred one case to court.
"The main causes of the violations are the absence of sanitary and epidemiological certificates, undocumented or expired products, non-compliance with the sanitary regime, lack of hot water, employees working without medical examinations and daily health checks, identified bacteria carriers (dysentery, staphylococcus), and improper handling of dishes and equipment – intestinal bacteria were found in 7.2% of swabs," the statement said.
During the inspections, weak oversight by school nutrition committees was also noted, along with the admittance of workers without medical checks and a lack of qualified staff in the canteens.
The Ministry instructed the region's Department of Sanitary and Epidemiological Control to strengthen preventive work and improve the quality of explanatory activities in educational institutions and canteens.
The Department of Education was recommended to bring canteens into compliance with standards, ensure verification of the food service provider regarding compliance with tender documentation requirements, and ensure the effective operation of the inspection committee.
It will be recalled that in September last year, in the Beshoky residential area of Mangystau village, Munaily District, Mangystau Region, 462 primary school pupils suffered mass food poisoning after lunch in the canteen. At that time, the Minister of Education Gani Beissembayev ordered inspections in all schools across the country.
Meanwhile, it became known that the school canteen was run by Individual Entrepreneur "Shakenova D". It was reported that the company's annual revenue was estimated at 2.5 billion tenge. Most contracts with the company were concluded via a single-source method.
Later, intestinal bacteria were found in 20% of swab and smear samples taken from the school canteen. Staphylococcus was detected in six canteen employees. Additionally, a dishwasher and a food server turned out to be carriers of dysentery.
In October, Minister of Education Gani Beissembayev stated that following the incident, the head of the Mangystau Region's Department of Education resigned, and the deputy governor of the region received a reprimand. Furthermore, the school terminated the contract with the company providing the catering services.
In January of this year, four employees of the aforementioned school canteen were convicted for working without undergoing medical examinations. The defendants admitted to purchasing fake medical certificates for 5,000 tenge.
In April, a sentence was passed on businesswoman Dinara Shakenova, who was responsible for supplying food to the school canteen. She was sentenced to one year's imprisonment.