Snails, Mold Found in School Meals; 76 Students Report Illness

Snails, Mold Found in Meals at a Shanghai School; 76 Students Report Gastrointestinal Issues

A recent food safety scandal has rocked Shanghai Linggang Foreign Language School Affiliated to World Foreign Language Education after several parents raised alarms about spoiled and contaminated food served in the school canteen. The controversy emerged when a series of disturbing videos and photos surfaced online, showing moldy ingredients, expired food, and even snails found in the students' meals. In November alone, 76 students reportedly suffered from gastrointestinal discomfort.

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According to reports, the issues came to light after parents of students at the school discovered several concerning incidents. On November 22, during the school's sports day, a number of parents, while eating with their children in the school canteen, found snails and insects in the food. Subsequent inspections by other concerned parents uncovered further alarming issues, such as sesame seeds infested with worms, moldy condiments, and expired tofu skin. Some also reported finding rust on cooking utensils and other unsanitary conditions.

A parent surnamed Wang, who witnessed the incidents, described how she and other parents took action by reporting the situation to local authorities. "On November 24, when we went to inspect the canteen, we found numerous problems – from expired ingredients to food infested with insects. It was shocking," said Wang. She noted that over the course of November, a total of 76 students showed signs of gastrointestinal issues, including nausea and diarrhea.

Parents also expressed their frustration over the cost of the meals, with some pointing out that the monthly meal fee of 1,400 RMB should have guaranteed better food safety.

In response to the growing concerns, the Education Bureau of Fengxian District and the local Market Supervision Bureau have launched an investigation. Authorities have taken food samples from the canteen for testing, and the school has temporarily stopped working with the supplier responsible for the food service. A new supplier, chosen from a list of qualified vendors, will provide meals to students while the investigation continues.

The authorities have confirmed that the samples of ingredients such as MSG, sugar, edible oil, and soup bases were found to meet food safety standards. However, the presence of snails, worms, and other foreign matter in the vegetables has raised serious concerns. A case has been filed against the supplier for potentially violating food safety regulations.

However, parents remain on high alert, demanding more transparency and stronger measures to ensure their children's safety.

Source: 大皖新闻

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