KOTA KINABALU: To tackle recurring cases of food poisoning in schools, the Sabah Health Department has launched an innovative programme aimed at educating pupils about food safety and hygiene through fun and games.
The Germ Buster Challenge 2025 at SK Tanjung Batu Keramat in Tawau last weekend brought together 361 students and 28 teachers from 11 primary schools across the district.
Organised by the Health Department’s Food Safety and Quality Division, in collaboration with the Tawau district Health and Education offices, the programme featured activities that reinforced the importance of food safety, particularly in school settings.
“Food poisoning in schools is often caused by a mix of factors, from poor hygiene among food handlers to unclean premises and unsafe food storage," said state deputy Health director Sitti Aralas, who launched the programme.
"But it also comes down to awareness.
“Through this challenge, we aim to instil basic food safety habits in children from a young age in a fun and memorable way."
Two core components of the event were a food safety and hygiene talk and Explorace, an interactive event with challenges linked to hygiene and food safety.
The Explorace saw SK Tanjung Batu Keramat emerge as overall champion, followed by SK Jambatan Putih in second place and SK Holy Trinity in third.
Sitti said the event highlighted not the need for clean food handling in school canteens and vendors, as well as the importance of encouraging children to practise “look, smell and taste” before consuming food.
“This is about empowering students with knowledge that can help them stay healthy and even potentially save lives. Good hygiene habits start young,” Sitti added.
The organisers intend to help curb food-borne illnesses and promote a culture of cleanliness and awareness in school communities through such proactive education programmes.
