Ho Chi Minh City to inspect school meal suppliers this month

The municipal People’s Committee said the inspections will focus on legal documentation, hygiene conditions, equipment, and staff qualifications at facilities supplying school meals.

Inspectors will also review the origin and quality of ingredients, product labeling, and compliance with food safety procedures, including the three-step verification process and sample storage.

Both catering companies and suppliers of raw ingredients to schools will be subject to checks.

The inspections are designed to be targeted, avoiding overlap and minimizing disruption to normal operations.

The city’s Food Safety Department will form inspection teams in coordination with commune-level administrations.

When necessary, other agencies and organizations may be invited to participate.

The inspections are scheduled to take place throughout this month.

After completion, the Food Safety Department will compile results and report to the municipal administration.

Funding for the operation will come from the state budget.

Officials said that the initiative seeks to detect and prevent violations promptly, reducing risks of food safety incidents in school canteens.

The move comes amid heightened public concern following a recent food safety scandal in which 300 metric tons of pork infected with African swine fever was processed and supplied to local markets and kitchens at 26 elementary schools and private preschools in Hanoi and neighboring provinces.