DOH reminds parents: Guide your children on what to eat when in school

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MANILA — The Department of Health (DOH) is reminding parents to always guide their children in terms of the food items being sold outside their school.

“We are appealing to the parents to keep on reminding their children to be careful on the food products they purchase in school,” DOH spokesperson Dr. Lyndon Lee-Suy said on Friday.

Lee-Suy made the reminder on the heels of reports on Thursday that over 100 school children were poisoned by candies purchased near a school in San Carlos City, Pangasinan.

Based on the reports, the children complained of abdominal cramps, pain and nausea and dizziness after eating candies purchased from a vendor outside the school.

The candy was sold at a very cheap price of PhP2 per box by a vendor stationed outside the school campus. The candy brand reportedly had no sign of expiry dates.

Dr. Lee-Suy said that since most school children are beyond supervision by parents on what food items they are purchasing while in the school, the parents should be constantly remind their children not to be enticed to buy something they are not sure of.

He also called on the sellers or vendors to be responsible enough in what they are selling to the school children.

The DOH official likewise reminded the local government units (LGUs) to ensure the safety of the commodities usually purchased by school children from stores near the school premises.

He said that the seller should be held liable if there is truth that the candy sold was already expired.

He also said that school officials and teachers should also be proactive in reminding the school children to be very careful in purchasing food products that may put their health in danger.

Dr. Lee-Suy suggested that it will be better if parents themselves will be packing snacks which are safe and health-promoter for their children.

“If the parents or guardians will be the ones who will pack the snacks, it is much better,” the DOH spokesperson stressed.

Since July is also the celebration of National Nutrition Month, he also encouraged parents to ensure that healthy foods and snacks are being taken by their children in school to avoid illnesses and food poisoning problems.