Regulation requires school officials to eat with students

China has introduced a new regulation, requiring school officials from kindergartens to high schools to accompany students in each school meal as a way of ensuring food safety.

The mechanism will be established in a bid to spot problems and safety hazards and address them in a timely manner, according to the regulation jointly issued by the Ministry of Education, the State Administration for Market Regulation and the National Health Commission.

Under the new regulation, parents will also invited as supervisors to offer suggestions on food safety and nutrition improvement, to which schools must give timely replies.

The regulation required schools to make public the food sources, suppliers and other information via public platforms.

Schools were also encouraged to release student menus and the corresponding nutritional information on a weekly basis.

The regulation said schools should foster healthy eating habits and intensify monitoring, assessment and intervention on malnutrition and obesity problems.

In general, food stores are not allowed in kindergartens, primary schools and high schools, said the document, adding that licensed stores should not sell food high in salt, sugar or fat.

The regulation will come into effect on April 1, and replace an earlier version introduced in 2002.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)