Health Ministry to monitor food labelling

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

The Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry has appointed a special sub committee to monitor the marketing and labelling of food available in Sri Lanka. About 20 food advertisements have already been banned by this committee, Deputy Director General, Health Services, Public Health, Dr. Palitha Maheepala said.

According to Dr. Maheepala there are 300 million food poisoning incidents reported from China annually and this number is 126 million in the U.S. Annually 5000 deaths are reported from U.S. in connection with food poisoning.

The Ministry made arrangements to implement the Food Act strictly. When it comes to school meals, the Education Ministry has to inform the PHI of the relevant area about the place where school meals are being prepared.