The World Food Programme (WFP) ensures that the Food Safety and Quality (FSQ) team is involved in the operational set-up to ensure Food Safety and Quality elements are adequately included from design through implementation and monitoring. The objective is to reduce the risks to an acceptable level and prevent any possible food contamination, with the goal of serving safe meals to school-age children.
FSQ team conducts initial assessment visits to suppliers who will be contracted to provide food products to ensure all food safety standards are met and lab results are conforming to the Lebanese standards and standards set by WFP. This includes ensuring that all food handlers have valid health permits, are wearing the required personal protective equipment (PPEs) when handling food and proper hygiene is maintained. At receiving, food commodities are inspected for any visual non-conformities and for valid expiry dates. Storage areas are regularly monitored in terms of cleanliness, organization, and ventilation.
Additionally, WFP contracts a third-party company that is tasked with the inspection of all operations from warehouse receiving, storage to distributions in schools and school kitchens. Finally, WFP’s field office monitors conduct regular visits to schools to ensure all food safety standards are met and no issues are encountered through their regular monitoring visits.