EVEN THOUGH there is a significant improvement in the way school canteens are operating, there are still products being sold that are not part of the approved catalogue.
A recent audit showed that fizzy drinks, crisps, croissants, ice-creams, doughnuts, bad quality or stale confectionaries, fat-ridden sandwiches and overpriced products are just a few of the discrepancies that have been noted. These products are sold on a daily basis and with no restrictions to schoolchildren.
The Local School Canteen Control Committees (TEESK) carried out audits on 101 gymnasiums and lyceums, twelve technical institutes and primary schools and sent the results to the Central School Canteen Control Committee (KEESK).
Results showed that in the last year there were shortages, weaknesses and irregularities in some canteens, despite the general improvement noted.
From the checks carried out on gymnasiums and lyceums it emerged that some need completely new canteens.
As for the product range, it emerged that many items that aren’t included in the set catalogue are still being sold.
It has also been noted that many bakery products come from unknown sources, while in one instance the canteen owner was actually preparing the sandwiches at home.
In some cases there were sealed products bearing no sell-by dates.
On top of all this, it was discovered that the products that weren’t included in the catalogue were being retailed at extortionate prices.
In the report of 2004-2005, each municipality was checked showing that Paphos was selling the most products that weren’t included in the list at 47 per cent. Nicosia was second with 36 per cent followed by Larnaca-Famagusta with 33 per cent and Limassol with 17 per cent.
It was easy to spot through the audit that there are many weaknesses and shortcomings in the system.
In many canteens it was discovered that staff weren’t wearing the appropriate uniform of white blouse and hairnet and that hygiene standards weren’t up to scratch.
The biggest problem in Nicosia was found at the Apostolos Varnavas Lyceum, where apart from non-catalogue products being sold, there was a lack of separate chopping boards for meat and vegetables, free access to bakery products and a place for people to smoke.
It was also discovered that the caretaker was not operating in accordance to the TEESK regulations and that the hygiene levels were very low.
Similar problems were identified in canteens in Paphos, Larnaca, Limassol and Famagusta.
In general there is an improvement in school canteen conditions, if a comparison is made to the reports dated 2003-2004.
There are still, however, problems that need to be dealt with mainly involving the state of the canteen buildings, the sale of products that aren’t included in the list and the hygiene conditions.
