If Intentional Obstruction of Food Poisoning Cause Investigation, Imprisonment Up to 3 Years Proposed

Government Discusses Measures to Improve Safety Management of Kindergarten and Daycare Center Meals

Expansion of Preservation Food Storage Obligations
Increase in Nutritionist Dispatches, Education Offices Must Assign Dedicated Personnel

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] Preservation of leftover food will be mandatory in kindergartens and daycare centers, and if leftover food is discarded or if investigations into food poisoning causes are intentionally obstructed, penalties of up to 3 years imprisonment or fines up to 30 million KRW will be imposed.

On the 12th, the Ministry of Education held the 12th Social Relations Ministers' Meeting at the Government Seoul Office to discuss the "Improvement Measures for Safety Management of Kindergarten and Daycare Center Meals."

In June, a mass food poisoning incident occurred at Ansan A Kindergarten, and based on the epidemiological investigation and a full inspection of hygiene in kindergarten and daycare center meals, related measures were prepared.

According to the government investigation, it is estimated that the children affected at Ansan A Kindergarten consumed food contaminated with E. coli due to malfunctioning refrigerator performance. Accordingly, the scope of mandatory leftover food preservation will be expanded. The obligation to preserve leftover food will be extended to kindergartens and daycare centers with fewer than 50 people, which are not classified as mass catering facilities, to accurately identify the cause when incidents such as food poisoning occur. In the case of the kindergarten in question, leftover food was already discarded before the investigation, limiting the ability to determine the cause, and the government plans to file charges and request an investigation against the A Kindergarten officials.

Additionally, fines for failing to preserve leftover food will be increased from 500,000 KRW to 3 million KRW, and if leftover food is discarded or damaged, fines will be raised from 300,000 KRW to over 3 million KRW. Furthermore, through amendments to the Food Sanitation Act, new penalties will be established, including imprisonment of up to 3 years or fines up to 30 million KRW for intentionally discarding leftover food or obstructing food poisoning cause investigations.

To support child meal facilities with fewer than 100 people that do not have nutritionists, the education office will provide licensed dedicated personnel to assist with tasks, and plans will be promoted to expand nutritionists at Child Meal Management Support Centers. Currently, the standard allowing shared nutritionists for up to 5 locations will be limited to a maximum of 2 locations, and facilities with 200 or more people must have a dedicated nutrition teacher.

The government will conduct full inspections of kindergartens and daycare centers at least once a year, and if violations are found during on-site inspections, disciplinary actions such as suspension of qualifications for meal-related personnel and staff will be enforced.

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