Koppal: FSSAI officials under scanner over worm-infested midday meals

Pics: Alakanand Malagi; Krishnappa RathodKoppal: The assistant commissioner's office of Koppal issued an inquiry notice to two staff members of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) in connection with the case of worms being found in midday meals prepared in various govt and aided schools in the district.
Assistant commissioner Mahesh Malagitti issued notices to FSSAI designated officer Alakanand Malagi, who heads the department, and food safety officer Krishnappa Rathod, asking them to appear for an inquiry on March 5.The inquiry relates to the case of worms being found in the midday meals of schoolchildren. Earlier, 3 samples of the poor ration were sent to the divisional laboratory for testing. The laboratory returned an ‘unsafe' report stating that "live worms, dead worms and webbed worms were visible on the surface," in all 3 samples.However, in the name of appeal, some other samples were sent to a referral laboratory. In that test, FSSAI staff obtained a "safe" report stating that "no live worms, dead worms or worms were found", complainant Srishaila Aldahalli told TOI.Alleging that the samples were changed, Aldahalli said, "Because of the change in the samples, the food that was earlier declared ‘unsafe' is now termed ‘safe'. As a result, worms continue to appear in midday meals." Hence, he submitted a complaint, along with supporting documents, to the principal secretary of the health and family welfare department.Following the complaint, the office of the principal secretary wrote to the Koppal deputy commissioner seeking an inquiry and a report. In response, the DC directed AC Mahesh Malagitti to conduct a probe and submit a report.Acting on the DC's directions, the assistant commissioner issued notices to FSSAI designated officer Alakanand Malagi and food safety officer Krishnappa Rathod, directing them to appear for an inquiry on March 5.The inquiry has raised high expectations in govt and aided schools across Koppal district, where there were repeated complaints about children's midday meals being worm-infested.