Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education mandates strict food safety controls

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training has issued a directive to school principals and local authorities to tighten controls over food sources for boarding and semi-boarding meals. This move follows a police investigation into a ring using banned substances in livestock, which reportedly introduced over 10,000 tons of pork containing the muscle-building agent Salbutamol into markets in Ho Chi Minh City and southern provinces.

Schools are required to verify the origin of all food products, ensuring suppliers provide complete documentation. Authorities have instructed schools to inspect products against their paperwork, maintain detailed logs, and follow mandatory food sampling regulations. The department strictly prohibits the use of animal products of unknown origin or those containing banned substances.

In the event that suspicious food or products of unknown origin are detected, schools must immediately suspend use, preserve the samples, and report the incident to local police and the Department of Education for investigation.