The Prime Minister issued Directive No. 33/CT-TTg dated August 14, 2026 on strengthening food safety assurance in educational institutions.
According to the Directive, in the past time, the work of ensuring food safety (FS) in educational institutions has been concerned and implemented by ministries, branches, localities, and educational institutions and achieved many positive results.
However, there are still many food poisoning cases occurring in educational institutions, negatively impacting the health and psychology of students, affecting the quality of educational activities.
The main reason is that the organization of food safety assurance of some educational institutions and related management agencies has not been fully and seriously implemented, lacking regular inspection and supervision; many cases of using poor quality food and food ingredients of unknown origin lead to unsafety, causing food poisoning.
The work of detecting and handling violations related to food safety in educational institutions has not been focused on, and there are not many cases that are warning and deterrent.
The Prime Minister requested to strengthen periodic and unscheduled inspections of food safety assurance conditions at collective kitchens, school canteens and establishments providing food and meals for educational institutions.
Annually organize an inspection team of the Central Inter-sectoral Steering Committee for Food Safety in educational institutions in some provinces and cities. Resolutely suspend operations, revoke certificates of food safety eligibility and strictly handle violating establishments according to regulations.
The Ministry of Public Security directs professional units to conduct a general review, fight, and handle crimes and violations of food safety laws; irresponsible acts in food safety management causing serious consequences, "cutting" portions and school meals. Fight and handle a number of "warning" and deterrent cases; continue to focus on investigating and handling cases and incidents related to food safety and related to food safety under the direction of the Central Steering Committee for Anti-Corruption, Wastefulness, and Negative Phenomena; apply information technology and digital transformation in receiving and handling denunciations and reports of crimes and violations of food safety laws through building hotline systems, Zalo OA security, and VNelD applications.
The Prime Minister also requested the People's Committees of provinces and cities to strengthen direction and supervision of the implementation of food safety assurance work in educational institutions.
Individualize the responsibilities of leaders and managers, especially heads of agencies in food safety management at educational institutions (completed in September 2026).
Educational institutions must implement transparency and public disclosure of information daily to parents (through bulletin boards, websites, technology applications, online contact groups) about the unit providing meals, ingredients, food images, import invoices, menus and actual meal trays images of students so that parents have a basis for monitoring and supervising.
Create conditions and mechanisms for the Parents' Representative Boards in educational institutions to participate in monitoring food sources, the process of dividing meals, participate in verifying and evaluating meal quality with teachers and students; conduct rapid tests (if conditions are met) for high-risk ingredients and food groups and inspect the processing area.
