Salem: A lizard was allegedly found in sambar served to students at a municipal elementary school in Mottur near Edappadi in Tamil Nadu, prompting officials to conduct medical examinations and inspect other schools supplied by the same common kitchen.
The incident reportedly occurred on Friday when teachers noticed the lizard in the food served to students. Around eight students had already eaten some of the food before they were alerted and stopped from consuming it further.
Students undergo medical checks
The students were reportedly made to spit out the food, while some experienced vomiting afterwards. A medical team led by doctors reached the school following the incident and examined the children.
According to an official associated with the Edappadi municipality, the students were found to be normal and no serious health issues were reported.
Officials also inspected other schools that received food from the same kitchen and examined students who had consumed the breakfast. No similar complaint was reported from those schools.
Food supply system inspected
The breakfast is prepared at a common kitchen on Eri Road in Edappadi and supplied to 23 government and government-aided schools across Edappadi, Arasiramani and Konganapuram under the breakfast scheme.
Officials inspected the food supply arrangements following the incident. The municipal official said the lizard may have accidentally entered the food after it was delivered to the Mottur school, where the food containers were reportedly kept open.
The incident has raised concerns about food safety and hygiene in school meal distribution systems. Officials are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident and the measures in place to prevent contamination.