Over 2,900 Hanoi schools review semi-boarding food suppliers

More than 2,900 schools in Hanoi are mandated to review their suppliers of food, ingredients, and drinking water for semi-boarding meals, following the discovery of a network distributing 300 tons of contaminated pork.

This directive was issued on 31/3 by the Hanoi Department of Education and Training.

The department urged local authorities to ensure the safety of semi-boarding meals. This includes verifying suppliers, confirming ingredient origins, proactively warning of risks, and investigating and addressing any food safety incidents.

Beyond publicizing menus and meal quantities, schools must reassess and evaluate food and ingredient suppliers. They are required to examine legal documents and food safety certifications, and strictly control the reception of ingredients, rejecting any food without clear origins, showing signs of spoilage, or not matching contractual agreements.

Schools may only continue contracts and use services from suppliers who fully comply with all regulations.

The department's directive comes after Hanoi Police recently uncovered a network involved in slaughtering and distributing 3,600 pigs infected with African swine fever, totaling 300 tons. Cuong Phat Company was identified as a primary distributor and supplier of meat to several schools in Hanoi within this network.

The list of schools that received food from Cuong Phat Company has not yet been released.