Elementary school denies using dirty food, suspends contract with food company

On the evening of October 26, social media was abuzz with a number of clips accusing the kitchen of Phu Huu Primary School (Thu Duc City) of having spoiled and unusable food. According to the clip, this kitchen also had many spices stored in unlabeled plastic cans, of unknown origin, supplier, and time of use.

Regarding the incident, on the afternoon of October 27, Mr. Phan Thanh Phai - Principal of Phu Huu Primary School (Thu Duc City) said: "The school does not have a kitchen, so this clip was not filmed at the school."

Spices are contained in unlabeled plastic cans. (Photo cut from clip)

Mr. Phai added that on October 25, the parents' representative committee and school leaders inspected and worked with the company providing meals for the school.

During the inspection, the school's parent representative saw unlabeled soy sauce bottles and chicken feet that did not meet food safety standards.

" The school's menu since the beginning of the school year has not had any dishes related to chicken feet, so this cannot be food cooked for students, " Mr. Phai emphasized.

According to Mr. Hai, due to the strong reaction of the school's parents, immediately on October 26, the school terminated the contract with Phuong Anh Vinh Long Company, the unit providing meals for the school.

On the same day, the school also stopped providing meals for nearly 700 students. This suspension will last until the school finds a new meal provider.

Responding to VTC News, Mr. Nguyen Thai Vinh Nguyen, Head of the Department of Education and Training of Thu Duc City, said that the department has received feedback from parents and is in the process of handling it.

Mr. Nguyen added that the People's Committee of Thu Duc City has issued Official Dispatch No. 555 on the plan to inspect compliance with the law in the field of food safety for collective kitchens, canteens, and food services in schools in Thu Duc City throughout the 2023-2024 school year.

According to Official Dispatch No. 555, the subjects of inspection are collective kitchens, canteens, and food services in schools in Thu Duc City; establishments providing meals in schools; establishments producing, processing, and trading raw materials, additives, packaging, etc. used in the food processing process in collective kitchens in the area.

Facilities that do not ensure food safety are posted on the mass media today, facilities that have complaints and petitions about food safety.

The chicken feet were reported by parents as being unusable. (Photo cut from clip)

During the inspection process, it is necessary to combine propaganda andeducation on knowledge and legal regulations on food safety, raise awareness and consciousness of school managers and food processors in ensuring food safety.

The inspection team will take samples of products that pose a risk of food safety and send food samples for testing at designated testing centers; other relevant contents serving specialized management work will be as requested by members participating in the interdisciplinary inspection team.

"The Department of Education and Training is directing continued review and inspection. The People's Committee of Thu Duc City has a plan to inspect food safety at schools. If the quality is not up to standard, the units must immediately stop signing contracts," Mr. Nguyen emphasized.

Lam Ngoc

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