Dong Thap mandates 24-hour resolution for school food safety complaints

The People's Committee of Dong Thap Province has officially issued a plan to strengthen food safety in local educational institutions. A key highlight of this directive is the requirement that schools must receive and resolve all complaints and feedback from parents and students regarding school meals within a maximum of 24 hours after receiving the information.

According to the provincial mandate, 100% of grievances related to meal quality must be handled or forwarded to competent authorities in a timely manner. For issues within the jurisdiction of the school, the administration is required to inspect, verify, and implement solutions immediately.

Furthermore, educational institutions organizing collective kitchens must establish and maintain rigorous food safety control processes. The province requires a comprehensive review and evaluation of all food and meal suppliers. All information regarding providers, menus, and the origin of ingredients must be disclosed transparently to allow parents to participate in monitoring.

The plan emphasizes strict management of the entire food supply chain, including: vendor selection, input inspection, transportation, receiving, pre-processing, cooking, and food storage. Authorities will coordinate periodic and surprise inspections, focusing on high-risk facilities. Schools are responsible for halting food usage and terminating contracts immediately if any supplier is found to violate safety standards.

Notably, the Dong Thap Provincial People's Committee affirms that it will hold heads of educational institutions and management agencies accountable if violations or food poisoning incidents occur due to lack of oversight or negligence. Provincial police forces are also tasked with increasing surveillance and strictly penalizing acts of fraud or violations of food safety laws that show signs of criminal activity.