Akshaya Patra’s Kitchens: Prioritising Hygiene and Safety

The Akshaya Patra Foundation, headquartered in Bengaluru, is an NGO in India dedicated to the welfare of children. Its primary role involves implementing the Government of India’s PM POSHAN Abhiyaan (formerly known as the Mid-Day Meal Programme) and thus protect children from malnutrition while ensuring they receive education.

Through a network of 72 kitchens spanning across 16 states and 2 UTs, the organisation is currently feeding over 2 million children every day. Each of these kitchen operates in accordance with ISO guidelines, ensuring that the meals served to children are hygienic and safe.

Two models of kitchens the organisation adopts for effective implementation of the Mid-Day Meal Programme (MDM) are:

1. Centralised kitchensCentralised kitchens have the capacity to prepare 1,00, 000 meals per day. Every aspect of meal preparation, from procuring raw materials to the final delivery of cooked meals can be efficiently coordinated from a single point of control. These semi-automated kitchens significantly enhance operational efficiency, thereby maximising the impact of the school feeding programme. All the kitchens are equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure facilities such as cauldrons, trolleys, rice chutes, dal/sambar tanks, cutting boards, knives and other similar equipment. Before cooking, all kitchens carry out sanitation measures to meet food safety and hygiene standards.
2. Decentralised kitchensThe organisation employs a decentralised kitchen model to feed children who are in difficult terrain. In these kitchens, local women prepare meals in accordance with the organisation’s operational guidelines. The two decentralised kitchens are located in Baran, Rajasthan and Nayagarh, Odisha.

Following are the hygiene principles the organisation follows to ensure children are receiving healthy and quality meals:

• Quality assurance during the procurement of raw materialsThe organisation gives utmost importance to supplier selection, qualification and supplier rating to procure the right and best raw materials. Conducting regular inspections is also an important part of the procedure to ensure the raw materials meet all the specifications which is adapted from the Food Safety Standards Act 2006 (FSSA).
• Storage, handling and preservation of raw materialsThe raw materials such as vegetables are procured on a daily basis and are cleaned and sanitised properly before cooking. Ready-to-cook cut vegetables are stored in cold storage to retain its freshness. Food Corporation of India supplies the rice. Before the cooking process, the rice is machine-cleaned and washed thoroughly. All the kitchens follow FIFO and FEFO methods to guarantee the freshness of all raw materials.
• Quality and safety during cookingAll the kitchens follow a standard process for preparing meals that includes sterilising cooking equipment using steam. The vessels are made of 304-grade stainless steel and are best for cooking and handling food. Each kitchen is equipped with skilled cooks and production supervisors who manage and supervise the production. The organisation also uses Critical Control Points (CCPs) to monitor and record the cooking temperature at regular intervals. Quality officers conduct frequent inspections to ensure the meals meet the quality standards. • Food packing and transportationThe cooked food is packed in vessels that are sterilised using steam and are transported in specially designed customized vehicles. Route optimization techniques, such as logistic charting and GPRS are used to ensure efficient and on-time delivery.
• Post-delivery processBy taking regular feedback from schools, the organisation strives to maintain the quality of meals by taking necessary improvement actions. The organisation conducts monthly audits and surprise audits to ensure food safety and maintain quality.

Being an implementing partner of the PM POSHAN Abhiyaan, Akshaya Patra is a leading NGO in India that works tirelessly to reach every child who is at risk of malnutrition. Guided by its vision that states, ‘no child in India shall be deprived of education because of hunger’, the organisation seeks the support of compassionate people to alleviate classroom hunger and thus nurture a healthy future generation.

Every contribution matters. By supporting Akshaya Patra, you can avail 50% tax exemption in return for your generosity.

The Akshaya Patra Foundation is an Indian Ngo implementing the Mid-Day Meal Programme. Your support to Akshaya Patra can potentially improve lives of millions of children across India and also avail you tax exemption.