Tribune News Service

Patiala, November 12

A team of the district Health Department today collected samples of food from a school and sent these for testing. As many as 12 students of Government Primary School at Arnetu village in Patran block of the district were taken ill yesterday.

Officials of the Health Department said they had collected samples of roti, vegetables and kheer. The samples have been sent to the state food lab for testing.

After eating the mid-day-meal, 12 students of the school complained of loose motions and vomiting yesterday. They were immediately taken to the nearest health centre from where they were discharged after some time.

Dr Shelly Jetly, District Health Officer, said the team inspected the food provided to the students under the mid-day meal scheme. Dr Shelly said she checked the raw food material and the cleanliness in the kitchen of the school. “We have given directions to the in-charge of the mid-day meal scheme to take special precautions while storing raw food items and preparing food. We have asked them to take extra care of cleanliness.”