Food safety in pre-schools: Some centres stick with in-house cooks

They say this allows them to better monitor hygiene, but some cite manpower challenges

Madam Lim Chow Tee, 61, is in charge of the kitchen at MapleBear's Toa Payoh North centre, and prepares meals for the pre-school. Each of MapleBear's 37 centres has a kitchen with one or two cooks.
Madam Lim Chow Tee, 61, is in charge of the kitchen at MapleBear's Toa Payoh North centre, and prepares meals for the pre-school. Each of MapleBear's 37 centres has a kitchen with one or two cooks. ST PHOTO: DESMOND FOO
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While some pre-schools are opting to provide catered meals to children, several - including NTUC First Campus and EtonHouse - are sticking with in-house cooks so that they can monitor hygiene standards and food variety.

There have been three food poisoning outbreaks in two months in pre-schools that serve catered meals to children, raising concerns about the risks of relying on external caterers, such as food being contaminated during delivery.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on April 02, 2019, with the headline Food safety in pre-schools: Some centres stick with in-house cooks. Subscribe