Vietnam Ministry of Education drafts new school meal regulations

The Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) held a workshop on September 25 to gather feedback on a draft circular regarding the organization of boarding and semi-boarding meals in preschools and general education institutions. The draft aims to establish clear requirements, conditions, and procedures for organizing school meals and canteens.

A primary focus of the draft is ensuring food safety and appropriate nutrition tailored to students' ages. The regulations propose that meal organization must be transparent, clearly defining the responsibilities of contracting parties, service providers, educational institutions, and relevant stakeholders.

Experts and school administrators at the workshop emphasized the need for specific regulations regarding liability when food safety standards are not met. Suggestions included providing guidance on menu development for schools lacking specialized nutrition staff and establishing clear protocols for handling issues when service providers fail to meet contract terms. The draft also proposes integrating nutritional education into the curriculum and utilizing technology and databases to enhance risk prevention and monitoring.