State Council to inspect food safety at schools

BEIJING - State Council authorities will conduct food safety inspection at schools following recent food poisoning incidents in several regions, according to the office of the State Council Education Supervision Committee.

The inspection aims for the sound implementation of the nutritional improvement plan in China's rural areas.

The office has asked local officials in charge of education to take effective measures to prevent the occurrence of such incidents.

The office has also ordered overhauls of school canteens, and that units and individuals found responsible be seriously punished.

It also asked for a strict entry threshold for food suppliers at schools and immediate withdrawal of illegal suppliers, urging strengthened supervision over food sanitation.

The schools should make public the food price and information of suppliers, it said.

Launched in November 2011 for elementary and middle school students in China's rural areas, the nutritional improvement plan offers schools subsidies to build canteens or outsource breakfast and lunch from catering companies, as well as free nutritional packages for infants and information on healthy nutrition for their caregivers.