Stirring up controversy over elementary school canteens in Hanoi importing rotten fish and smelly meat

(Dan Tri) - Since the afternoon of October 23, many images and clips of the unsafe food kitchen at Chu Minh Primary School (Quang Oai Commune, Hanoi) have been shared across social networks.

According to the circulating images, a group of parents conducted a surprise inspection of the school cafeteria and discovered bags of tilapia fillets with pieces of fish that had gone bad. One person held a piece of fish up to the camera and gently rubbed it with their hand, causing the fish meat to disintegrate.

In addition, a basket of meat was supposedly washed to remove the rancid and slimy smell, but the odor persisted.

A woman in the video admitted it was the food supplier's fault and apologized, but the parents' apology was not accepted.

The images of spoiled fish and meat were allegedly taken in the kitchen of Chu Minh Primary School, Hanoi (Photo:

The incident reportedly occurred in the kitchen of Chu Minh Primary School, Quang Oai commune, Hanoi city.

Responding to a reporter from Dan Tri newspaper , Ms. Nguyen Thi Nam, Chairwoman of the People's Committee of Quang Oai commune, said that the incident occurred in early October. Immediately upon receiving information from parents, the People's Committee of Quang Oai commune inspected the food supply activities at Chu Minh school and subsequently terminated the contract with the school lunch provider, Dao Luong Investment & Trading Joint Stock Company.

From October 6th, the school's canteen at Chu Minh School will be temporarily closed while a new meal supplier is selected and tendered.

According to Ms. Nam, on the morning of October 24th, the school held a meeting with parents to discuss this matter, with the aim of resuming the school's canteen services as soon as possible.

Previously, parents of students at Cu Khe Primary School (Binh Minh commune) also complained about the school's canteen after discovering spoiled meat and rotten eggs. Immediately afterward, the school had to terminate its contract with Nhat Anh Company - the meal provider.

On October 3rd, Hanoi established an inter-agency inspection team to examine the organization of school lunch programs for students in schools across the city.

Accordingly, the inter-agency inspection team will examine all three aspects directly related to students' school lunch programs: the direction, management, and supervision by the People's Committees of wards and communes; the selection, contract signing, and supervision by schools of the school lunch providers; and the compliance with laws and food safety conditions by the lunch providers.

Through unannounced inspections in all communes and wards across the city, the inspection team will work from October 6th to May 31st, 2026.

The head of the inspection team is Vice Chairman of the city, Vu Thu Ha.

Starting from the 2025-2026 school year, Hanoi will provide meal subsidies for primary school students, including both public and private schools, excluding schools with foreign investment.

Accordingly, there are two groups of beneficiaries of this policy with different levels of support. The group of students from 23 schools in mountainous communes and the mid-river areas of the Red River receive a daily meal allowance of 30,000 VND.

The remaining students receive a daily food allowance of 20,000 VND.

If parents and the school agree on a meal fee higher than the amount subsidized by the government, the difference will be collected from the student.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/giao-duc/xon-xao-bep-an-hoc-sinh-tieu-hoc-o-ha-noi-nhap-ca-uon-thit-boc-mui-20251024150648312.htm