Strictly regulate preschool food safety! The State Administration for Market Regulation begins soliciting opinions

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, March 25 - Title: Strict Management of Kindergarten Food Safety! The State Administration for Market Regulation Begins Soliciting Opinions

Xinhua reporter Dai Xiaohe

On March 25, the National State Administration for Market Regulation informed that it, together with the Ministry of Education, has drafted the “Regulations on Supervision and Management of Kindergarten Food Safety Responsibilities (Draft for Solicitation of Opinions),” which is currently open to public feedback.

This draft consists of 32 articles, primarily focused on implementing the “four strictest” requirements for food safety and reinforcing the responsibility for food safety in kindergartens. It clearly states that the responsibility for food safety in kindergartens shall be under the principal’s authority, and that food safety supervisors and safety staff must be appointed, strictly enforcing the system of “daily control, weekly inspection, and monthly scheduling.” Additionally, it specifies concrete responsibility requirements for critical areas such as meal service models, food ingredient procurement and acceptance, processing and production control, restrictions on high-risk foods, and the cleaning and disinfection of dining utensils, ensuring that each link has regulations to follow and documentation to verify.

Food safety in kindergartens is a major concern for parents and is receiving high attention from society as a whole. According to the Ministry of Education, there are over 250,000 kindergartens nationwide, with nearly 36 million children enrolled. This vast group of young children, combined with the centralized meal service model in kindergartens, raises higher and stricter demands for the refinement and strictness of food safety management.

The 32 articles open for public opinion focus on seven key areas, weaving a comprehensive and full-chain “safety net” for children’s food safety.

Responsibility implementation is the “fixed star” of food safety in kindergartens and is also central to regulatory accountability. The draft clearly states that food safety in kindergartens operates under the principal’s responsibility. Whether it is the kindergarten cafeteria, contracted operating companies, or meal service units, they must legally appoint food safety management personnel, clarify job requirements and specific responsibilities, ensuring that responsibilities are assigned to individuals and enforced. Meanwhile, dynamic risk prevention must be strengthened, strictly adhering to the “daily control, weekly inspection, and monthly scheduling” system by establishing “three ledgers” to maintain daily inspection records, weekly analysis, and monthly summaries, with relevant documentation archived for review to ensure that food safety risks can be accurately prevented and dealt with in a timely manner.

Food ingredient safety is the “first line of defense” for children’s diets, and standardized processing is a “key link.” The draft, in conjunction with relevant work guidelines, specifies the admission conditions for food ingredient suppliers, encourages local areas and kindergartens with the conditions to implement public bidding and centralized procurement, and requires the establishment of supplier evaluation and exit mechanisms to ensure food ingredient safety from the source; in the processing stage, it also explicitly requires all parties to strictly comply with relevant laws, regulations, and standards, ensuring that every link, from cafeteria layout and facilities to raw material storage and meal service, meets requirements, effectively eliminating safety hazards.

The qualifications of cafeteria staff directly affect the quality of food for children. The draft clearly requires that kindergarten cafeterias, contracted operating companies, and meal service units strengthen training and assessment for employees, particularly enhancing random inspections and assessments of food safety management personnel. Those who fail assessments or do not meet job requirements must be immediately rectified, while their management qualifications must be suspended, ensuring that all personnel can competently fulfill their roles and maintain safety standards.

To reassure parents, the new regulations also strengthen social supervision and promote the establishment of a co-governance model involving families, schools, and communities. It explicitly encourages kindergartens to advance the “Internet + Bright Kitchen and Stove” initiative to achieve full-chain video monitoring; at the same time, it strictly implements the meal accompaniment system and information disclosure system, reinforcing mechanisms for parents to accompany meals and internal supervision reporting rewards, effectively ensuring the right to know, participate, and supervise for teachers, students, and parents, allowing everyone to participate in the supervision of food safety in kindergartens.

Additionally, the draft outlines severe punitive measures, delineating a “red line” for food safety: if a kindergarten cafeteria, contracted operating company, or meal service unit violates food safety-related laws and regulations, they will face severe penalties, with strict enforcement of “punishment to individuals” and employment bans; if criminal conduct is established, the case will be transferred to judicial authorities for handling.

(Editor: Wenjing)

Keywords:

                                                            Food safety