School canteen accused of serving substandard food

The discipline inspection and prosecuting bodies in Haiyang, Shandong province, are investigating administrative authorities after a school canteen was accused by parents on Monday of serving substandard food.

Parents told media that Haiyang Great Talent Experimental School, a privately-funded school, used poor quality meat in meals, while photos provided by parents show moldy steamed buns and rotten tomatoes in the school's kitchen.

More than 100 parents gathered at the school on Monday morning seeking an explanation.

The local education office and the market and quality supervision office has set up a team to investigate, including probing the school's suppliers as well as storage and food processing techniques.

The market and quality supervision office collected 22 food samples from the school's canteen, which will be tested this week, with results to be released on Saturday, according to Haiyang's publicity office.

The local discipline inspection and procuratorate bodies are investigating administrative authorities, including the Haiyang education office, market and quality supervision office and the farming office for possible negligence and graft.

The school's canteen was managed by Yu Chunli, the younger sister of school chairman Yu Chunlin. Yu Chunli has already been replaced over the food scandal.

"If it's true that the school provides bad food for students, the school is utterly conscienceless and it should be shut down," said Zhang Xiaojie, the mother of a 10-year-old.

The school published a letter on WeChat on Monday, saying the school has never used bad or dirty food in meals.

Wang Xiaoyan, vice-mayor of Haiyang, said Haiyang views students' physical and psychological health as the top priority.

"The food scandal has exposed some problems in the field of government supervision and management. We will continue improving our work to ensure students' health," Wang said.

Officials from the Haiyang education office met some parents on Thursday to listen to their advice and suggestions.

According to the education office, more surveillance cameras will be installed at the school's canteen to monitor meal preparation. A new medical room will be set up at the school to treat students who are ill.

The school's official website states it has been approved by the local education authority and is a full-time private school that offers kindergarten, primary and junior middle school education. It has more than 3,600 students, and 200 teaching and administrative members.

zhaoruixue@chinadaily.com.cn