In recent days, the fact that a food supplier suspected of using expired meat put into a school kitchen has caused many parents to worry.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoa - a parent of a student at Nguyen Van Huong Elementary School (Phu Thuan ward) - said that before, she was completely assured to let her child eat semi-boarding meals. However, after reading information on social networks and newspapers, she began to worry.
No one wants their children to eat unsafe food. Hearing the news makes me shudder, these days I've been worried about whether my children's meals are safe," Ms. Hoa said.
According to Ms. Hoa, although taking her child home for lunch will be hard and take more time, she still decided to temporarily stop her child from semi-boarding until the end of the school year. "It is necessary to do so to ensure her child's health," Ms. Hoa shared.
Similarly, Ms. Nguyen Ngoc Thanh - a parent of a student at Tan Quy Elementary School (Tan Hung ward) - said that she used to have great faith in the school's semi-boarding meals. However, after following the reflected information, she could not hide her frustration.
My child said he doesn't want to eat at school anymore. Hearing that, I was also very worried and angry," Ms. Thanh said.
In the opposite direction, many parents fell into difficulty when the school temporarily stopped organizing semi-boarding.
Mr. Tran Van Manh (Phu Thuan ward) said that in recent days, he and his wife have had to wake up early to prepare lunch for their children.
Both husband and wife go to work from morning to afternoon, there is no one to pick up and drop off the children. I know I'm worried, but if I don't feed my children semi-boarding, I don't know where to send them," Mr. Manh said.
Previously, on January 28, An Phuoc Thang SG Trading Co., Ltd. (Sago Food) - a unit providing meals for many schools in Ho Chi Minh City - was reflected on suspected use of expired meat and substandard food in processing meals for students, causing much concern in public opinion.
Immediately after the reflection, schools that are using meals provided by this unit have temporarily stopped organizing semi-boarding to wait for the conclusion of functional agencies. During this time, parents have to bring rice or pick up their children for lunch.
A quick report from the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Food Safety sent to the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee on the inspection results at An Phuoc Thang SG Trading Co., Ltd. (Sago Food) said that this company currently provides meals for 12 schools in Ho Chi Minh City, a quantity of 9,300 meals/day.
At the time of inspection (January 28), the company was cleaning the facility and washing utensils for serving meals.
The delegation inspected goods being stored at the warehouse. Among the raw materials were 371 kg of livestock and poultry meat, including: 51 kg of frozen pork ribs; 200 kg of frozen chicken skin; 120 kg of frozen lean chicken breast without skin, contained in nylon bags, without labels, production dates, and expiration dates.
The company presented that it was purchased from another company on January 26, 2026, with a shelf life of 6 months from the date of manufacture with a preservation temperature of -10°C. The inspection team is conducting verification and clarification and handling according to regulations.
The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Food Safety said that it will conduct origin tracing for units supplying raw materials and food to An Phuoc Thang SG Trading Co., Ltd.
