Heads of units and schools are fully responsible for food safety.

To strengthen food safety assurance in the 2025-2026 school year, the Hanoi Department of Education and Training encourages the participation of the Parents' Representative Board in monitoring, and requires heads of units and schools to be fully responsible for food safety in school meals.

Lunchtime for students at Thang Long Primary School. (Illustration: NGOC MINH)

The Hanoi Department of Education and Training has issued a document on strengthening food safety assurance for the 2025-2026 school year, sent to the Department of Culture and Social Affairs of wards, communes and affiliated units and schools.

The Hanoi Department of Education and Training requires units to carry out tasks related to food safety education and propaganda, management of collective kitchens and school meals, as well as promote supervision and responsibility.

Specifically, units need to promote propaganda and update knowledge on food safety and school nutrition for cadres, teachers, staff, parents and students through forms such as training, seminars and topics;

Organize educational activities such as extracurricular activities, research competitions, and integrate food safety knowledge into appropriate subjects to build the habit of choosing safe food for students; Instruct students to practice personal hygiene, especially washing hands with soap before eating to prevent foodborne diseases...

In addition to the kitchen having to be designed according to the correct standards (one-way principle, insect screens, separate hand washing area, and ensuring enough clean water according to the standards of the Ministry of Health ), 100% of food must have contracts, invoices, legal documents, and clearly state the origin. Only import food from establishments with food safety certificates and absolutely do not use food of unknown origin or expired.

Schools must strictly implement "Three-step food inspection" (checking input materials, during processing and before eating); Store food samples according to the instructions of the Ministry of Health as well as ensure regulations such as: Tools and cabinets for storing raw and cooked food must be separate and have distinct labels; 100% of kitchen staff must have a certificate of knowledge about Food safety and annual health check-ups and must be fully equipped with protective clothing (hats, masks, gloves...).

Schools must publicly disclose their daily finances (total number of meals, income and expenditure) and publicize their menus and food sources. The public content includes a list of suppliers, contracts, daily menus, three-step verification results, etc. Encourage the participation of the Parent-Teacher Association in monitoring.

The Hanoi Department of Education and Training also stipulates that heads of units and schools are fully responsible for food safety and will be held legally responsible if violations or food poisoning occur. Heads of units and schools must seriously evaluate and inspect food suppliers (including drinking water, milk and dairy products), raw materials, and meals for students to ensure food safety, proper nutrition, improve health, and prevent epidemics; develop scenarios and specific plans to handle unusual situations or food poisoning at the unit, etc.

YOUTH

Source: https://nhandan.vn/thu-truong-cac-don-vi-truong-hoc-chiu-trach-nhiem-toan-dien-ve-an-toan-thuc-pham-post909063.html