MoPH intensifies oversight to ensure food safety in school canteens

Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has intensified its oversight of school canteens to ensure high food safety standards and protect st...

Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has intensified its oversight of school canteens to ensure high food safety standards and protect students' health.

The Ministry has developed a comprehensive plan to qualify food suppliers for school canteens. The Food Safety Department at the Ministry of Public Health conducted 67 inspection visits to ensure that suppliers meet all health requirements and food safety standards. These inspections aim to verify that any necessary corrective actions are implemented. Follow up inspections are also conducted prior to granting final approval to suppliers.

The inspectors from the Ministry of Public Health demonstrated a strong commitment to promoting awareness and offering guidance to suppliers, food handlers, and canteen supervisors. Their efforts were directed toward enhancing efficiency, improving compliance with health regulations, and reducing the incidence of violations. Furthermore, the Ministry undertook a comprehensive survey of drinking water in all schools, kindergartens, and nurseries to ensure that it conforms to health standards.

The Food Safety Department, in collaboration with relevant authorities, has developed a comprehensive action plan to promote food safety awareness in schools. This initiative will be implemented during the academic year 2025-2026 and targets both school canteen supervisors and students at all levels. The goal is to foster a culture of food safety among students. The Department conducts routine inspections of school canteens throughout the academic year to ensure compliance with health standards. Furthermore, the Department collaborates with relevant entities to provide a safe and healthy school environment.

As part of the Ministry of Public Health's efforts to promote the health of school students in the State of Qatar, the Ministry participated in the ‘Back to School’ event organised by the ‘Hour and Hour Program’, in collaboration with the Youth Division of Al-Sailiya Sports Club, under the slogan “With Knowledge and Work, We Build the Nation.”