Hygiene Inspection of 43,000 Kindergarten and Daycare Center Cafeterias Over One Month

Seongdong-gu Office employees are conducting a meal hygiene inspection at a local daycare center.

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] The government has decided to conduct hygiene inspections at over 43,000 kindergarten and daycare center cafeterias nationwide for one month.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced on the 3rd that, together with the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health and Welfare, and local governments, it will carry out hygiene inspections over the course of this month based on the number of people served. To expedite the inspections, facilities were divided into those with group cafeterias serving 50 or more people and those serving fewer than 50. Approximately 16,000 kindergartens and daycare centers with 50 or more people will be inspected by hygiene departments of each metropolitan local government under the supervision of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. They will check whether preserved meals are stored properly and if hygiene standards are being followed.

For facilities with fewer than 50 people, about 4,000 kindergartens will be overseen by the Ministry of Education in cooperation with city and provincial education offices, while approximately 23,000 daycare centers will be inspected by local government childcare departments under the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s supervision. They will examine personal hygiene, facilities and equipment, and food ingredient management. For small-scale facilities, nutritionists from 224 nationwide Child Meal Management Support Centers will participate in food poisoning prevention education and assist facilities not yet registered with the centers to register.

Additionally, a task force composed of officials from related ministries will be formed to develop measures to improve cafeteria hygiene based on the inspection results. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety urged, "Since bacterial food poisoning can frequently occur during the summer, all meal facilities should take special care to thoroughly wash vegetables and cook meat completely through to the inside before serving."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.