The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training sent a document to school principals and the people’s committees of wards, communes and special zones on strengthening checks of food origins, banned substances in animal farming, and lists of suppliers of food and prepared school meals.
The move followed an investigation by Ho Chi Minh City police into the use of banned substances in animal farming. Since January 2026, suspects had put more than 10,000 tonnes of pork produced with salbutamol, a meat-leaning agent, on the market in Ho Chi Minh City and several southern provinces and cities.
The case showed that banned substances could enter the food supply chain, including food served in school boarding meals and during the school day. The department therefore ordered educational institutions to tighten checks at every stage, from supply and receipt to preparation and storage.
Schools must require suppliers to provide complete documents proving the origin of food. When receiving food, they must check it carefully, compare the information in the documents with the actual goods, keep monitoring records and retain food samples as required.
Schools were also told to temporarily stop using food if they find or receive information that it may contain banned substances, or if animal products have no clear origin. The school must leave the products unchanged, retain samples and promptly report to the people’s committee of the ward, commune or special zone where it is located, the local police and the Department of Education and Training for coordinated inspection and action.
Educational institutions are also prohibited from accepting animals or animal products of unknown origin, products that do not meet disease safety requirements, or products containing banned substances for use in meals for students.
The department also ordered schools to inform managers, teachers, staff, students and parents about the harm caused by banned substances in animal farming, and to improve monitoring, detection and timely reporting of unusual signs related to food safety.
When selecting suppliers, schools must check and use the list of companies supplying food and prepared meals that hold a valid certificate of food safety eligibility issued by the Food Safety Department.
Sources: Dân Trí
