Industrial catering firms propose a 25,000 VND floor price to ensure food safety and nutrition
Industrial catering companies propose a minimum price of 25,000 VND per meal to balance ingredient costs while ensuring nutritional value and food safety standards.
On August 6, a supervisory delegation from the Ho Chi Minh City People's Council, led by Deputy Chairman Huynh Thanh Nhan, conducted a site inspection at Tu Anh Industrial Catering Co., Ltd. to evaluate state management regarding food safety.
According to the company, which has 26 years of experience, it provides approximately 50,000 meals daily to schools and industrial parks. To reduce logistics risks, the firm is transitioning toward on-site kitchen operations. For pre-processed meals, the time from cooking to service is strictly limited to under two hours.
The operational process follows a strict one-way flow, separating raw and cooked zones. Food samples are stored at 2 - 8 degrees Celsius for at least 24 hours. Notably, the firm uses QR codes to track ingredient batches, allowing for efficient management of menus, inventory, and traceability.
However, the company faces significant challenges as raw material prices rise while many clients still request a price point of 20,000 - 22,000 VND per meal. Tu Anh proposes a minimum price floor of 25,000 VND per meal (excluding taxes) to maintain nutritional requirements and safety standards. Furthermore, the company requested tax incentives for school meals and support for digital transformation.
Addressing this proposal, Mr. Huynh Thanh Nhan noted that there is currently no regulated price ceiling for meals, as costs depend on market agreements between providers and clients. He emphasized that food safety is the top priority and urged the firm to focus on energy efficiency, waste treatment, and rigorous ingredient quality control.
The delegation also noted the burden of managing street food in HCMC. The HCMC Food Safety Department stated that after shifts, many workers opt for cheap meals from street vendors and informal markets, which pose significant health risks due to the difficulty of monitoring such mobile and small-scale businesses.