To curb food waste through small portions, half portions, and other measures, the Ministry of Education and four other departments advocate for school canteens to provide meals on demand. Schools | Food Safety | Half portions
Carry out various forms of food safety popularization and education on "practicing thrift and opposing waste" to enhance students' awareness of food safety and health literacy; According to age and developmental characteristics, avoid providing high salt, high oil, and high sugar foods to ensure nutritional balance; Advocate for school canteens to provide meals as needed, and prevent food waste by adopting small portions, half portions, set meals, buffets, and other methods; Urge schools to strictly implement the food safety principal responsibility system and the school's relevant person in charge meal accompanying system... Recently, the State Administration for Market Regulation, in conjunction with the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Public Security, and the National Health Commission, issued a notice on effectively strengthening the food safety work in schools in the autumn of 2023, which strengthens the food safety work in schools in the autumn.
The Notice requires market supervision and education departments in various regions to urge off campus catering units and schools to conduct comprehensive self inspections before the start of school, strengthen the inspection of insect, rodent, and fly prevention equipment and facilities, regularly maintain and update them, and block loopholes in the facilities. Improve old equipment and hardware facilities, strengthen the installation and maintenance of rodent nets in areas such as ventilation ducts in the cafeteria. Organize comprehensive supervision and inspection of off campus catering units, key parts of school canteens, key facilities and equipment, and key links. In conjunction with the special action to address food safety issues in centralized dining units, a list of food safety issues and hidden dangers discovered should be established, and ledger management should be implemented to rectify them in a timely manner within a specified period of time.
The Notice clarifies that education departments in various regions should effectively strengthen their industry management responsibilities, strengthen food safety education and daily management for off campus catering units and schools, and urge schools to strictly implement the food safety principal responsibility system and the school's relevant person in charge meal accompaniment system. Education departments in various regions, together with relevant departments, guide schools to strictly organize bidding in accordance with the bidding process, and urge schools to establish and improve mechanisms for off campus centralized catering, contracted or commissioned operation access, assessment and evaluation, and exit management. Education departments in various regions, together with health and market supervision departments, will increase the promotion of food safety and nutritional health knowledge in schools.
In addition, strengthen supervision and inspection of schools and their surrounding areas. Market supervision and education departments in various regions should organize comprehensive supervision and inspection of off campus catering units and school canteens. Regarding food operators in the vicinity of schools, it is necessary to strengthen daily supervision and inspections in accordance with the highest risk level D inspection frequency and requirements, and urge food operators to strictly implement the provisions of the Law on the Protection of Minors, which prohibit the establishment of alcohol sales outlets and the sale of alcohol to minors in the vicinity of schools. They are also prohibited from selling food that violates public order and good customs and is detrimental to the health of young people, and comprehensively prevent and control food safety hazards in schools and campus areas. We need to strengthen the supervision and random inspection of food in and around schools, and supervise the rectification of food safety issues and hidden dangers discovered within a specified period of time.
The special investigation and rectification action should be carried out in conjunction with the special governance action on food safety issues in centralized dining units. The focus should be on checking whether the facilities and equipment of the school cafeteria meet the prescribed requirements, whether the contracted or entrusted enterprises have obtained corresponding operating qualifications, whether the food safety management system is implemented and fulfill food safety responsibilities, whether the "daily control, weekly inspection, and monthly scheduling" work mechanism is deeply embedded in the daily management of the enterprise, whether the food safety laws and regulations are strictly implemented, and whether the entire process operation is standardized.