WFP school feeding programme suspended after toxicity havoc
Wednesday, 3 June 2009
KHAGRACHHARI, Jun 2 (UNB): The United Nations World Food Programme-run feeding programme for 76 primary schools and non-formal Para education centres was suspended Tuesday after 428 students fell sick after eating biscuits Monday.
Official and local sources said the students of eight primary schools in Laxmichhari Upazila of the hill district Monday morning suffered stomach upset after taking biscuits distributed under the WFP recipe meant for improving nutritional status of the hill children.
The UN food agency also runs such free feeding operations in some other parts of the country.
Its activity targets primary schoolchildren in the most food-insecure areas under its school feeding programme. Each school day, every student receives a ration of fortified biscuits that are produced by a local biscuit manufacturer.
UNO of Laxmichhari Salimuddin said no manufacturing and expiry dates were inscribed on the packets of the biscuits distributed among the students under a special recipe for the three hill districts.
He said, "On behalf of the WFP, local NGO Kabidong supplied the biscuits, manufactured by Nabisco Biscuit and Bread Factory Limited, to the schools."
He said now 17 students are undergoing treatment in Mohalchhari Upazila Health Complex while five in Laxmichhari and several others in Manikchhari Upazila Health Complex.
The rest returned home earlier, after the toxicity havoc that occurred on the very day of inauguration of the special school feeding programme.
Official and local sources said the students of eight primary schools in Laxmichhari Upazila of the hill district Monday morning suffered stomach upset after taking biscuits distributed under the WFP recipe meant for improving nutritional status of the hill children.
The UN food agency also runs such free feeding operations in some other parts of the country.
Its activity targets primary schoolchildren in the most food-insecure areas under its school feeding programme. Each school day, every student receives a ration of fortified biscuits that are produced by a local biscuit manufacturer.
UNO of Laxmichhari Salimuddin said no manufacturing and expiry dates were inscribed on the packets of the biscuits distributed among the students under a special recipe for the three hill districts.
He said, "On behalf of the WFP, local NGO Kabidong supplied the biscuits, manufactured by Nabisco Biscuit and Bread Factory Limited, to the schools."
He said now 17 students are undergoing treatment in Mohalchhari Upazila Health Complex while five in Laxmichhari and several others in Manikchhari Upazila Health Complex.
The rest returned home earlier, after the toxicity havoc that occurred on the very day of inauguration of the special school feeding programme.