Lam Dong: Parents 'uproar' over concerns about dirty food entering school kitchens

Recently, hundreds of parents of Trung Vuong Primary School, Xuan Huong Ward - Da Lat ( Lam Dong ) gathered at the school, demanding clarification of the accusation related to the import of poor quality food to serve meals for boarding students.

Photos of pork taken by the kitchen and sent with the complaint.

Parents are concerned

The cause of the "wave" of reaction began in August 2025, when Ms. NTKT (former canteen staff of the boarding school in the 2024-2025 school year) posted a denunciation on social media, along with photos showing dirty food being brought into the school kitchen.

According to Ms. T., from November 21, 2024 to April 15, 2025, the kitchen staff repeatedly discovered unusual food such as: smelly frozen beef balls, strange-colored pre-sliced pork and beef, slimy shrimp, and abnormal water flow. At least 6 times, the kitchen reported the incident to the Board of Directors of Trung Vuong Primary School, even refusing to use it. However, according to Ms. T., these abnormalities were not properly handled, showing signs of covering up for the supplier.

On August 11, 2025, Ms. T. sent a complaint to the Ward People's Committee, the Provincial People's Committee and the Department of Education and Training. To date, Ms. T. has not received an official response.

The information quickly caused many parents to panic and worry about the quality of the meals their children eat every day. Some families temporarily stopped sending their children to school, instead taking them home.

Hundreds of parents came to Trung Vuong Primary School to attend a meeting regarding boarding meals. (Photo: QT)

The climax occurred on the evening of September 18, 2025, when hundreds of parents gathered, demanding that the Board of Directors of Trung Vuong Primary School explain the incident transparently.

During the meeting, Ms. Nguyen Thai Quynh Nga - Principal of Trung Vuong Primary School expressed regret for the unexpected incident. Ms. Nga apologized to the parents and affirmed: "Food with unusual signs was detected and promptly handled by the school, absolutely not allowed for students to use."

Ms. Nga emphasized that when there is an official conclusion from the police, it will be announced publicly so that parents can rest assured.

Ms. Nguyen Thai Quynh Nga - Principal of Trung Vuong Primary School had a dialogue with parents on the evening of September 18.

Mr. Nguyen Mau Ha - Chairman of the People's Committee of Xuan Huong Ward - Da Lat said that he had organized a meeting to listen to the opinions of parents, teachers and the accuser. However, the evidence was not complete, so the case was transferred to the professional agency and the police for verification. "When we have the results, we will inform the parents immediately to reassure them," said Mr. Ha.

The confrontation was tense, with some parents expressing their anger: “If there are real violations, they need to be dealt with severely to protect the health of students. If not, there must be transparency so that we can continue to trust the school kitchen.”

Mr. Nguyen Mau Ha - Chairman of People's Committee of Xuan Huong Ward - Da Lat at the meeting.

Strict handling if violations are detected

Speaking to reporters, Mr. Nguyen Minh - Vice Chairman of Lam Dong Provincial People's Committee said that the Provincial People's Committee has directed the Department of Education and Training to coordinate with relevant agencies to promptly intervene and strictly handle any violations discovered.

The relevant agencies are taking drastic measures. From the incident at Trung Vuong Primary School, it can be seen that the management and supervision of meal supply units is still lax.

Following the incident, parent NVT shared: “Some suppliers are chasing profits and are willing to buy cheap, poor quality ingredients. If inspections are not carried out regularly, the risk of food safety is inevitable.”

Therefore, parents believe that in addition to the signed contract, the school needs to closely coordinate with the health sector and parents to monitor food inputs. Meal suppliers must meet all standards: Have a food safety certificate; Clear origin of raw materials; Well-trained processing staff.

“Students’ health must be put first. Only when the inspection and supervision of meal providers are carried out seriously, consistently and continuously, can risks be limited and trust from parents and society as a whole be built,” said another parent.

Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/lam-dong-phu-huynh-day-song-vi-lo-thuc-pham-ban-lot-vao-bep-an-truong-hoc-post749088.html