Evaluation of School Canteens (at the Level of the Province of Khemisset Morocco): Hygiene and Food Safety

Abstract

Hygiene and food safety in school canteens are crucial for ensuring the health of students. This requires strict measures to prevent food contamination, such as regular handwashing, proper food storage, cooking at safe temperatures, and correct handling of fresh produce. Hygiene standards in school canteens must adhere to current health regulations to guarantee the quality of the meals served to students. The aim of our work is to evaluate school canteens in the province of Khemisset, focusing on hygiene and food safety. Our study involves 14 schools (both middle and high schools) that have a canteen, to assess whether these canteens meet the recommended hygiene standards. These standards are based on several practices, including a set of measures and behaviors that must be rigorously followed to ensure food quality and safety. These are handwashing, presence of equipment protection, cleaning protocols, adherence to storage temperatures, management of expiration dates, employee health, compliance with transport conditions, and the presence of equipment and products to prevent insect infestations.