THE PROVISION OF QUALITY AND SAFE FOODS IN SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM THROUGH CENTRALIZED FOOD PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGIES

Sound nutrition is the basic foundation for the health of a population. Proper nutrition education through the school system can actualize the building of sound nutrition being provided at school lunch programs along with nutrition education can have far reaching impact to the health of the whole nation. In Hong Kong, the recent change over from a half day to full day school program signaled the need for a school lunch program. However, there has been no organized effort so far in Hong Kong to provide such service. School lunches are being provided by caterers who are more concerned about profits than food safetly. Alarming rates of food poisoning occurring recently in Taiwan school has further accentuated the importance of fool safety. With the advent of centralized food production technologies, Dietirians can apply their nutrition knowledge and integrate with food production processes such that safe, healthy and nutritious mcals can be produced in large quantities in a cost-effective manner serving he needs of the school children. This paper introduces the centralized food production concept, using some of the cool chill production centers for school lunch programs in the United States as examples to discuss how new technologies and management system can be integrated to yield the best outcome in food quality and safety.