In order to implement the "Notice of the General Office of the General Administration of Market Supervision and Ministry of Education on the Investigation of Food Safety Risks in Schools Starting in Spring 2019", the General Administration of Market Supervision, in conjunction with the Ministry of Education, has recently sent four research groups to Beijing, Zhejiang, Anhui and Hubei provinces (cities) to carry out special research on school food safety.
According to official news from the General Administration of Market Supervision, the survey focused on school canteens and student collective meal distribution units, and inspected food safety in 12 schools and kindergartens, 5 collective meal distribution units and a central kitchen in 11 districts (counties) of 4 provinces (cities).
The survey shows that four provinces (cities) attach great importance to school food safety work. Combining with the notification requirements and local work practice, self-inspection of school food safety and special inspection of school food safety in spring have been deployed and carried out, and the school food safety situation has been constantly improved. The investigation team gave feedback on food safety problems and potential risks, such as imperfect system, irregular processing and operation process, improper cleaning and disinfection, and demanded immediate rectification.
School food safety is the top priority of food safety supervision. The notice said that food poisoning in spring has entered a period of vulnerability, and food safety risks are widespread. Educational administrative departments and market supervision departments should take more effective measures to strictly prevent and control food safety risks on campus.
The notice requires that local market supervision departments should focus on school canteens, student collective meal distribution units and small supermarkets, snack shops and small catering shops around schools, with livestock and poultry meat, meat products, eggs and egg-products, dairy products, edible oils and other bulk food raw materials and " food of 0.5 Yuan" as key varieties, and with food inspection, food storage and food processing as key items. Making, cleaning and disinfection of tableware and food samples are the key acts, and special food safety inspections are organized and carried out in schools starting in spring. The notice suggested that schools should be encouraged to use the Internet and other means to disclose food sources, procurement, processing and production processes, and actively accept the supervision of students'parents and society.
Next, the General Administration of Market Supervision will continue to take further measures with the Ministry of Education to implement the principal responsibility of schools and prevent and control food safety risks on campus. Publicize and implement the Regulations on School Food Safety and Nutrition and Health Management issued jointly by the Ministry of Education, the General Administration of Market Supervision and the Health Commission. Taking school canteens and collective catering distribution units with students as the main objects of food supply as the focus of supervision, we shall implement full coverage supervision and inspection, and strictly implement the "four most stringent" requirements, namely, the most stringent standards, the stringent supervision, the stringent punishment and the most serious accountability. Conditional schools and kindergartens are encouraged to establish such systems as information disclosure of centralized meals, accompanying meals by parents, public bidding for food raw materials in canteens and ordered purchasing. Promote the implementation of "bright kitchen stove" in school canteens and catering units, and explore the wisdom supervision of school food safety.
