Education authorities in Beijing released a new guideline on Thursday to increase food safety at kindergartens and schools at all levels.

File photos: VCG

According to Beijing Municipal Education Commission, kindergartens, primary and secondary schools should establish a centralized dining system that also requires the presence of school leaders at every meal amid new efforts to find and solve problems quickly.

The regulation said heads of schools and kindergartens are directly responsible for food safety and need to be assisted by a commissioner for food safety management, either full time or part time.

Companies supplying food to schools also need to be clear about their safety responsibilities. 

As a general principle, all canteens except at universities and colleges are now banned from producing or selling uncooked food, cold food and green beans, unless they meet certain requirements.

District-level educational and food authorities need to have a copy of contracts between meal suppliers and schools. 

The regulation also requires schools to prepare for food safety emergencies and hold drills to improve preparedness.