Compiled from: China Legal Education
 
Case review
Since March 5, when the issue of food supply at Chengshi Wai School in Yucheng District, Ya'an, Sichuan, arose, the Yucheng District Committee and District Government have attached great importance to it. They immediately established a joint investigation team that rushed to the scene to handle the situation with a resolute, open, and transparent attitude. Relevant food materials were sealed and sent for inspection, and investigations were conducted into the relevant units and responsible individuals. The concerns of students' parents were promptly addressed, and the normal teaching order of the school was maintained. The relevant situation is now reported as follows.
 
Regarding the issues reported by students' parents that the "Inspection Report" for the vegetables delivered to the school on March 5 was issued on March 6, that the school cafeteria's food supplier used false inspection reports in violation of regulations, and that the school cafeteria management was not standardized, investigations have confirmed these facts. The following actions have been taken respectively:
 
1. In accordance with Articles 64 and 130 of the Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China, the Yucheng District Market Supervision Bureau has ordered the inspection agency that falsified the vegetable inspection report to rectify the issue, confiscated its illegal gains, and imposed an administrative penalty of a fine of 200,000 yuan.
 
2. In accordance with Article 52 of the Public Security Administration Punishments Law of the People's Republic of China, the Yucheng District Public Security Bureau has imposed administrative detention of 15 days on the inspector Liu Mouhong for forging enterprise certification documents, 15 days on the operator Wang Moudong for using forged enterprise certification documents, and 5 days on Qiu Mourong for the same offense.
 
3. The Yucheng District Education Bureau has taken the lead in conducting a comprehensive inspection of all school cafeterias in the district, and no food safety issues have been found so far.
 
4. In accordance with relevant regulations, Chengshi Wai School has decided to terminate the supply contract with the cafeteria food supplier. The logistics manager and the principal of the primary school department have been dismissed. At the same time, a comprehensive cafeteria food safety supervision system has been established, a meal-sharing system involving the principal, teachers, and parents has been implemented, and the cafeteria has been upgraded with smart technology to ensure the safety of students' meals in all aspects.
 
5. The Yucheng District Commission for Discipline Inspection and Supervision has established an investigation team to look into the food supply issues at the Chengshiwaishiyan School cafeteria in Yucheng District, examining the work style, performance of duties, and whether there is any illegal interest structure involving relevant units and personnel. Any problems found will be dealt with seriously in accordance with discipline and law.
 
Next, the Yucheng District Government will draw inferences from this case, effectively fulfill its government regulatory responsibilities, and further strengthen the supervision of school education and safety management. All sectors of society are welcome to supervise.

 
 

 
[1] Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China
Article 64
Wholesale markets for edible agricultural products shall be equipped with inspection equipment and personnel, or entrust food inspection institutions that comply with the provisions of this Law, to conduct random inspections of edible agricultural products sold in the wholesale market. If any non-compliance with food safety standards is found, the seller shall be required to immediately stop sales and report to the food safety supervision and management department.
 
Article 130
In violation of the provisions of this Law, if the organizer of a centralized trading market, the lessor of counters, or the organizer of an exhibition allows food operators who have not obtained a license according to law to sell food in the market, or fails to fulfill obligations such as inspection and reporting, the food safety supervision and management department of the people's government at or above the county level shall order correction, confiscate illegal gains, and impose a fine of not less than 50,000 yuan but not more than 200,000 yuan. If serious consequences are caused, the business shall be ordered to suspend, until the original licensing authority revokes the license. If the legitimate rights and interests of consumers are harmed, joint liability shall be borne with the food operator.
If a wholesale market for edible agricultural products violates the provisions of Article 64 of this Law, it shall bear responsibility in accordance with the preceding paragraph.
 
 
Public Security Administration Punishments Law of the People's Republic of China
Article 52
Whoever commits any of the following acts shall be detained for not less than 10 days but not more than 15 days and may also be fined not more than 1,000 yuan; if the circumstances are relatively minor, he shall be detained for not less than 5 days but not more than 10 days and may also be fined not more than 500 yuan:
(1) Forging, altering, or buying or selling official documents, certificates, certification documents, or seals of state organs, people's organizations, enterprises, institutions, or other organizations;
(2) Buying or selling, or using forged or altered official documents, certificates, or certification documents of state organs, people's organizations, enterprises, institutions, or other organizations;
(3) Forging, altering, or scalping train tickets, ship tickets, airline tickets, tickets for theatrical performances, tickets for sports competitions, or other valuable tickets or vouchers;
(4) Forging or altering vessel license plates, buying or selling or using forged or altered vessel license plates, or altering vessel engine numbers.

 
 

 
[1] The author's perspective
The food safety of school cafeterias is directly related to the health of every teacher and student. Once food safety standards are not met, it can cause large-scale impacts, so such group food supply must be strictly controlled.
 
In this case, it was only after students' parents reported the issue that the school took it seriously, and relevant authorities then intervened. It is evident that the school cafeteria did not strictly review the certification documents provided by food suppliers. Even if the suppliers forged the documents, the obvious discrepancy between the delivered ingredients and what was ordered should have been noticed by the school, but it was not taken seriously. The school cafeteria clearly has lax and irregular management. What is even more despicable is the supplier and testing agency. Since they forged the documents, it means they knew the ingredients were substandard and deliberately falsified them. Where is the health and safety of all school staff and students? This time, the relevant authorities have imposed administrative penalties on the testing agency and its personnel who forged the documents, serving as a warning to those who harbor侥幸心理—do not think you can get away with it; if you don't want others to know, don't do it.