Flavoured milk struck off civic school menu

“We will provide nutritious food such as chikki and biscuits. Other details regarding tender conditions are being drafted,” said a senior official of the civic education department.

The decision was taken following recommendations of a panel including senior dieticians from major civic hospitals. The committee was chaired by Dr Suhasini Nagda,Dean of Nair Hospital.

Following complaints of food poisoning by civic school students,attributed to flavoured milk,the BMC had set up a panel to suggest alternatives.

“Unlike flavoured milk,which is difficult to digest or take home,these packaged foods can be eaten by students in school or even taken home,” said a senior official adding that solid food was suggested rather than liquids that have lower shelf life.

“These solid foods are also high in protein,calcium and iron content,” said an official.

In 2007,BMC had introduced flavoured milk to around 4.6 lakh students in its 1,170 primary and 49 secondary schools. Although the scheme was introduced to provide nutritious food to under-privileged students,it has been mired in controversy since launch.

Last October,the civic administration had sent samples of flavoured milk and khichdi — part of the mid-day meal scheme – to the Food and Drugs Administration as they allegedly caused food poisoning in students of a civic school in Malad.

In 2010,there were 11 cases of food poisoning reported and BMC found packaged milk supplied to schools unfit for consumption.

Following food poisoning cases,the scheme was discontinued several times,only to be resumed months later. The civic body had earmarked over Rs 100 crore on a yearly basis for the scheme.

In the 2013-14 budget,the civic body had made a provision of Rs 114.32 crore for primary schools and Rs 17.69 crore for secondary schools to supply flavoured milk.