Thu Duc City urgently directs food safety in schools

TP.Thủ Đức chỉ đạo khẩn về an toàn thực phẩm trong trường học - Ảnh 1. — Students at Phu Huu Primary School, Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City have temporarily stopped eating at boarding schools since October 26. Many students live far away, so their parents buy lunch boxes and ask the nanny to feed them, waiting for them to continue studying in the afternoon.

The official dispatch was issued by the People's Committee of Thu Duc City (HCMC) this afternoon, October 30, to enhance health protection for students in response to parents' concerns about boarding meals that have been reported in the press recently.

Thu Duc City People's Committee requested the Department of Education and Training of Thu Duc City to urgently direct schools with collective kitchens and canteens to proactively and regularly self-inspect food safety work at schools and perform food safety work well. Direct schools under management to coordinate well with food safety inspection teams and strictly follow the instructions of food safety inspection teams. At the same time, the Department of Education and Training must report the results of ensuring food safety at schools in the area to the Standing Committee of Thu Duc City People's Committee and the Department of Education and Training according to regulations.

Thu Duc City People's Committee requested the Department of Health to lead an interdisciplinary inspection team, specialized in food safety, to inspect all food supply establishments, collective kitchens, canteens, and food services in schools in Thu Duc City; promptly detect, prevent, and strictly handle organizations and individuals violating the provisions of the law on food safety. The Department of Health coordinates with the Department of Education and Training and the Medical Center to organize training on knowledge and practical skills to ensure food safety for 100% of facility owners and food processors in school collective kitchens (until November 30, 2023).

TP.Thủ Đức chỉ đạo khẩn về an toàn thực phẩm trong trường học - Ảnh 2. — As of today, October 30, 6 schools in Thu Duc City (HCMC) have temporarily suspended boarding meals.

The official dispatch of Thu Duc City People's Committee also requested Thu Duc City Medical Center to write propaganda articles, strengthen information, propaganda, and education on food safety and food poisoning prevention; Coordinate with the Department of Health in inspecting all collective kitchens and school canteens in Thu Duc City; Coordinate with the Department of Education and Training in supervising collective kitchens and school canteens, and guide facilities to properly implement food safety solutions.

The document also requested Food Safety Management Team No. 2 to coordinate and support professional work for interdisciplinary and specialized inspection teams of Thu Duc City People's Committee and Ward People's Committees.

Notably, the People's Committee of Thu Duc City assigned the People's Committees of 34 wards in the area to take the lead in inspecting food safety at schools and child care groups in the ward, and strictly handle any violating establishments. Compile and make a list of all child care groups and child care groups with boarding kitchens in the ward and send it to the Health Center (before November 29, 2023); Inspect and strictly handle the situation of street vendors and encroachment on the sidewalk to sell food around school areas.

The People's Committees of 34 wards also need to strengthen communication work on the ward's loudspeaker system on propaganda content in the field of food safety, risks and harmful effects of unsafe food, food of unknown origin, contributing to preventing food poisoning in schools...

Improve the quality of meals for students

On the afternoon of October 30, speaking with Thanh Nien Newspaper reporter, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Hien, Deputy Head of the Department of Education and Training of Thu Duc City, said that in recent days, as soon as there was information related to a unit providing meals to schools in the area, causing parents to worry, the Department of Education and Training of Thu Duc City held a meeting, deployed to the principals of the schools, and fully informed them about the incident.

The Department of Education and Training also listened to parents’ opinions on the upcoming boarding plan, whether to continue with the old company’s catering unit or to change to a new unit. Ms. Hien said that as of today, October 30, 6 schools have temporarily suspended boarding until a new catering company is found.

Ms. Hien said that when the school temporarily stopped providing meals and looked for new partners, difficulties arose. The school also had discussions and hoped that parents would continue to accompany and share with the school, and find solutions with the school to maintain teaching and learning.

The Department of Education and Training of Thu Duc City will accompany schools and representatives of parents in the process of studying the documents and evaluating the actual capacity of the catering companies to find reputable partners, ensuring the provision of safe meals for students, so that students can study with peace of mind and parents can work with peace of mind.

At the same time, Ms. Hien said that the Department of Education and Training will also regularly collect information, take notes, and improve the quality of students' meals. The Department will work with the interdisciplinary inspection team to strengthen supervision and inspection of all companies providing meals for boarding students, kitchens, canteens, and food services in schools. The Department of Education and Training also sent an official dispatch to all schools, companies providing meals, canteens, etc. so that units comply with the law and enhance their responsibility in providing food and meals for schools in the area...

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