DOH official reminds parents to avoid raw food, street food

COTABATO CITY - A regional health official in Region 12 has appealed to parents to remind children not to take raw food and stop patronizing street food.Speaking over DXMS Madam Public Service program, Dr. Francis Mateo, Department of Health 12 assistant regional director, said school children are vulnerable to food poisoning.He cited the case in Makilala, North Cotabato where suffered abdominal pain after eating tuba-tuba seedlings.Mateo also cited the case where a family was poisoned after eating saluyot believed to be laden with pesticides.Several food poisoning cases were reported in Kidapawan City Aleosan, North Cotabato Lutayan andEsperanza, Sultan Kudarat and Salibao, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao.Mateo said these are avoidable and preventable cases. What is important is for parents to guide their children and prevent them from buying street foods sold in front of school grounds.