Not just a tick
On September 22, Dong Thanh commune launched the "Responsible Green Tick Standard Meal" model, a pilot project of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade for school kitchens.
From July 2026, the model will be implemented at 4 kindergartens including Bong Sen, Kindergarten 2, Son Ca and Son Ca 3. To date, the model continues to be implemented at primary and secondary schools in the commune.
According to Ms. Nguyen Thu Hoa - Principal of Bong Sen Kindergarten, the model helps to make meal information transparent through digital technology and QR codes. Material information, menu and organization process are updated and stored for school management and parents to monitor.
The model contributes to strengthening responsibility throughout the food supply chain, while improving information traceability and monitoring capabilities, gradually shifting from traditional management to management supported by digital technology" - Ms. Hoa said.
Kitchen data is managed from receiving to serving. Parents access information via QR code, increasing transparency.
Mr. Truong Van Tanh - Vice Chairman of Dong Thanh Commune People's Committee said that Ho Chi Minh City has had many directives to build safe food supply chains, develop standard raw material areas, strengthen traceability and control food into collective kitchens.
In which, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade builds a model "Meal according to the standard Green Tick of responsibility". According to Mr. Tanh, the core point is not in the green tick, but in the responsibility and transparency of each link in the supply chain.
What we want more is to gradually build a safe food ecosystem, where suppliers aim for clean production, responsible business and quality competition, not chasing cheap prices" - Mr. Tanh emphasized.
The locality expects to form a network of reputable suppliers with legal documents, electronic traceability and meeting food safety standards.
Responsibility throughout the supply chain
Mr. Dao Ha Trung - Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City High-Tech Association said that technology supports management agencies, kitchens and food suppliers.
According to Mr. Trung, previously, the receipt of goods was mainly based on papers and seals, so it was difficult to know the full information behind the product. When the data is traced, the parties can track the journey from the supplier to the kitchen.
Technology is not the only factor determining success. The key lies in the participation of the community and parents. Parents can work with schools and wards to inspect, supervise and take samples when necessary" - Mr. Trung said.
Mr. Trung said that parents' feedback needs to be forwarded to the school for response. The school requests the kitchen to explain; the kitchen clarifies with the supplier and the supplier queries the manufacturer. The supply chain is activated, and responsibilities are defined.
According to the implementing units, the effectiveness of the model lies in the transparent mechanism, with the supervision participation of schools, parents, management agencies and businesses.
Mr. Nguyen Nguyen Phuong - Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade said that the management of production and business of goods, especially food, still faces many challenges. Even for items that seem easy to control like eggs, when produced on a large scale, quality problems can still arise.
The model is built on the basis of international experience. According to Mr. Phuong, changing the way of doing things is not simple, but the joint implementation of schools is an effort of localities and schools.
When the model operates effectively, we want to be able to replicate it in other schools, areas with high concentration of workers and places with high demand for meals, thereby bringing good models into practical life" - Mr. Phuong said.
