Ho Chi Minh City launches comprehensive review of school meals over safety concerns

An Phuoc Thang SG Trading Co Ltd, known as Sago Food, which supplies about 10,000 meals daily to kindergarten, elementary and lower secondary students in Ho Chi Minh City, has come under scrutiny over suspected use of unsafe food products.

On January 28, following the publication of an investigative report at Sago Food’s facility that documented meat products past their expiration dates still being processed for use, multiple schools in Ho Chi Minh City announced the suspension of semi-boarding meal services starting the next day, according to notices issued by the schools.

A day later, the Department of Education and Training requested schools to coordinate with the Food Safety Department and other relevant agencies to carry out thorough, on-site inspections and strengthen monitoring of school meal providers.

On-site monitoring of school meals, not just paperwork reviews

In a directive on school lunch programs, the department said educational institutions that organize on-campus meals, also known as semi-boarding meals, must strictly carry out a comprehensive review and submit full reports on the organization and provision of school meals.

The directive calls for stronger self-inspection and monitoring of school meals through periodic, regular and unannounced checks, as well as closer coordination and supervision of meal providers to promptly detect any signs of food safety violations and report them to competent authorities.

At the same time, schools are required to conduct a full review of suppliers’ legal documentation, supply procedures, transport and delivery conditions, and the actual quality of meals served, ensuring compliance with food safety regulations.

Oversight must not rely solely on paperwork but must focus on monitoring implementation in practice, the department said.

The department also instructed schools to provide complete and truthful information on meal suppliers, including company name, tax code, address, contact person, supply model, number of meals provided per day, delivery schedule and the type of semi-boarding meal arrangement.

Reports must be submitted no later than 5:00 pm on February 2, 2026.

The directive further noted that in the event of food safety risks, incidents or issues beyond the handling authority of educational institutions, schools must immediately report to the department, through the Student Affairs Division, for coordination with the Department of Food Safety and relevant authorities to conduct inspections and take timely action, ensuring absolute safety for students.

Steps required for schools using Sago Food products

For schools using products supplied by Sago Food, the Department of Education and Training ordered the immediate suspension of services provided by the supplier, including industrial and pre-prepared meals that have drawn complaints from parents, the media or other information channels.

Schools were also instructed to urgently inspect, review and verify the reported issues and take corrective measures without delay.

Use of the supplier’s services may only resume after an official conclusion is issued by the competent authorities.

In addition, the department required schools to proactively develop contingency plans and organize alternative arrangements for managing semi-boarding meals during the suspension period, ensuring absolute safety for students.

Schools must urgently report to the education department and to ward-, commune- or special zone-level authorities in the case of kindergartens, elementary and lower secondary schools, and provide all required documents and records to relevant authorities upon request.