3 sacked over school food scandal

The headmaster of a private school in the Pudong New Area caught in a food scandal has been sacked and the catering service provider investigated, Shanghai’s food and education authorities said yesterday.

Zhu Ronglin, headmaster of Shanghai SMIC Private School, Tang Cuihua, the school’s director of general affairs, and Feng Zhengmei, canteen coordinator of the school, were removed from their posts, the school announced in a statement yesterday. The sackings come on the heels of an investigation by local authorities who were tipped off about food quality and a messy kitchen at the school on Friday.

Mildewed vegetables, expired seasoning and semi-processed food products, and fabrication of production dates of semi-finished food were found in the school canteen, according to the Shanghai Food and Drug Administration and Shanghai Education Commission.

The inspectors checked the canteens at 29 schools and kindergartens and their catering service provider Shanghai Eurest Food Technologies Services Co Ltd.

A bottle of seasoning with fake labeling was also found in the canteen of SMIC-Shanda Private Kindergarten; a bottle of expired flavoring was found in Concordia International School Shanghai and expired bread in the garbage bin outside the kitchen, authorities said. The other schools had no food quality issues.

The three schools and kindergarten have been ordered to stop catering services from Shanghai Eurest Food Technologies Services Co Ltd immediately. The food operator too is under investigation. 

Shanghai Eurest, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the British catering giant Compass, apologized in a statement on Monday. It said it had set up a working team and engaged third party food safety company to conduct a thorough inspection of all projects and vendors.

The Shanghai SMIC Private School also apologized in a statement yesterday, saying a serious review and self-reflection will be conducted in addition to the sacking. It has implemented a contingency plan to ensure normal food service is provided to the students and the faculty during the interim, the board said. 

Students pay over 100,000 yuan (US$14,400) in fees annually at SMIC.

Authorities said severe punishment will be imposed if illegal acts are found or any interest-motivated trade is uncovered during investigation. They have ordered strengthened inspections to ensure food safety in schools citywide.