Schools stop lunch programs after spoiled chicken discovery

According to Nguyen Thi Thu Hien, deputy head of the Thu Duc City Department of Education and Training, the four schools are: Truong Thanh Primary School, Truong Thanh Secondary School, Phuoc Thanh Primary School and Long Thanh My Primary School.

They will stop offering school lunches starting Oct. 30. All the schools have their food supplied by the company based in Thu Duc's Long Thanh My Ward.

Previously, the Parents' Committee from another school, Phu Huu Primary School, were allowed to inspect the quality of food served to their children on Oct. 25. Upon checking the food supply company in question, the parents discovered chicken meat that was spoiled inside the freezer. In the spices storage area, some bottles of chili sauce had no cap to cover them.

Spoiled chicken meat found inside a freezer of a company that supplies lunches to several schools in HCMC, Oct. 25. 2023. Photo provided to VnExpress by parents at Phu Huu Primary School

The company also supplies the four aforementioned schools.

The food company said the spoiled chicken meat was discarded after food processing, and was not used to cook the students' meals. However, parents said allowing spoiled meat to be stored in the same location with other food items was unacceptable.

Phu Huu Primary School leadership discussed the matter with parents and agreed to end the contract with the food company in question, suspending school lunches on Oct. 26 until a new food provider is found.

Spoiled chicken meat is discovered inside a freezer of a food company that supplies lunches to school cafeterias in HCMC,

Hien said the four newly-affected schools have consulted with parents about the matter and until a new lunch provider is found, parents can bring their children home for lunch, or students will be allowed to bring their own lunches to school. Around 4,000 students will be affected by the lunch suspension, she said

Previously in Hanoi, several students at the Thanh Cong B primary school got food poisoning following a school lunch. The school is not associated with the provider in question, but the story prompted parents across the country to be more vigilant.