Critical shortcomings in food safety management at school canteens in Quang Tri province
A report by the Quang Tri Food Safety Agency highlights significant risks regarding food sourcing, facility infrastructure, and transport procedures at local school canteens.
Mr. Le Minh Tien, Head of the Quang Tri Food Safety Agency, announced that the unit has completed a review of food safety conditions at schools across the province. The interdisciplinary inspection team conducted checks on 223 educational institutions, 220 of which operate boarding canteens.
The results indicate that while schools have invested in equipment and ensured 100% of staff are trained in food safety standards, the oversight of raw material origins remains highly inadequate. Many food suppliers have not been appraised per the Prime Minister's Directive, leading to contracts missing veterinary quarantine certificates, quality self-declarations, and traceability documents.
Regarding infrastructure, many long-standing kitchens show signs of deterioration, including mold and poor drainage systems. Particularly in mountainous areas, transporting meals from main kitchens to satellite locations 10-20km away using primitive vehicles without specialized preservation equipment poses a significant risk to food safety.
Furthermore, the quality of water used for food processing at some locations has not been tested regularly due to budget constraints. The lack of specialized medical staff and the low compensation for contract kitchen workers also remain major hurdles in maintaining sustainable food safety standards.
Given these findings, the Quang Tri Department of Health has requested the Provincial People's Committee to allocate funds for facility upgrades. The department also mandated that local authorities accelerate the appraisal of food suppliers and require schools to complete documentation regarding traceability and food transportation procedures in accordance with current regulations.
