China has released its first national standards aimed at regulating school meal providers, part of a broader effort to improve food safety for the country's more than 230 million schoolchildren following a series of incidents that have sparked public concern.

The "Guidelines for the Management of School Meal Service Providers", issued by the State Administration for Market Regulation, will take effect on Dec 1 and apply to companies that prepare and deliver meals to primary and secondary schools as well as kindergartens.

The guidelines are designed to address food safety risks across the entire supply chain, from menu planning and ingredient procurement to food preparation, delivery and emergency response, officials said.

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"School meal provision involves wide coverage and multiple steps and has become a key area of supervision," said Qu Hao, an official with the administration, in an interview with China Central Television. "The guidelines offer clear, standardized instructions for schools and meal providers to follow."

The new rules require providers to appoint food safety directors and dedicated inspection staff, conduct daily safety checks and analyze risks monthly. Staple ingredients such as rice, flour and cooking oil must be purchased from designated suppliers, and all batches of ingredients must undergo testing, including checks for pesticide residue.

Food preparation processes will be monitored through "smart kitchen" systems that allow parents and schools to view operations in real time, while samples from each meal must be retained for at least 48 hours for safety checks. Delivery vehicles must be sealed, registered with authorities and equipped with GPS tracking.

If food safety issues are detected, providers must immediately initiate recall procedures and report incidents to local regulators.

The guidelines come as Chinese authorities move to strengthen oversight of school meals following recent incidents. In one case, more than 200 children at a kindergarten in Tianshui, Gansu province, were found to have elevated blood lead levels after kitchen staff used diluted industrial pigments in meals. Six people have been arrested and an investigation is ongoing.

The Ministry of Education has urged local education departments to use the summer break to conduct safety inspections and train school administrators and canteen staff in food safety management before the new semester begins.

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Authorities are also encouraging schools to offer affordable day care services during the summer using public facilities while reminding parents to remain vigilant when choosing summer camps and after-school programs to protect children's well-being.

The ministry has stressed that schools are not allowed to conduct classes during the summer vacation, delay the break or start the fall semester early, and should limit homework assigned over the summer.

China's efforts to tighten oversight of school meal services aim to ensure "safety on the tip of the tongue" for millions of students, regulators said, as the government works to address public concerns over food safety and child welfare.

Contact the writer at zoushuo@chinadaily.com.cn