GOPENG: Dining hall operators and food suppliers involved in food poisoning cases at schools will have their contracts terminated immediately under a proposed new clause.
Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said the proposal would be discussed at the ministry before the additional clause is included in the contract.
"This is serious as food poisoning cases have affected various types of schools, with the latest one involving Malay College Kuala Kangsar (MCKK)," he said after opening the Gopeng Umno division delegates' meeting here today.
He was commenting on 30 food poisoning cases having struck schools in Perak this year, with 10 of them occurring from Aug 7 to date.
Mahdzir admitted that despite various measures introduced by the authorities, food poisoning cases at schools were still rampant nationwide.
"We don't want to issue warnings anymore and we will not hesitate to terminate their contracts if such incidents happen in the future," he said.
On the food poisoning case at MCKK, he said the number of student affected were 53 and the state Health Department had made another inspection at its dining hall and kitchen today.
It was reported that the students at the premier school came down with diarrhoea, stomach ache and vomiting on Wednesday.
Checks made by the health officials found that the utensils used in the dining hall and kitchen were dirty while maggots were also found in a van used to transport food.
The kitchen was closed for two weeks pending investigation.