New standards aim to ensure safe school meals

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.