The Dangjin Education Support Office initiated a comprehensive inspection of school meal hygiene and safety across the city’s educational institutions on February 19, 2026, a move intended to preempt potential foodborne illnesses at the start of the novel academic year. The inspections, which concluded February 27, encompassed elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as special education schools and kindergartens within the Dangjin jurisdiction.
The initiative comes as part of a broader, nationwide effort coordinated by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, with a joint inspection period running from January 27 to March 31, 2026. According to officials, the Dangjin Education Support Office directly inspected ten schools, supplementing self-assessments conducted by individual school administrators.
The scope of the inspections focused on the entire food service process, from the storage and inspection of ingredients to their preparation, and serving. Particular attention was given to the personal hygiene practices of food service personnel, the sanitary condition of kitchen facilities and equipment, and the preparedness of schools to respond to potential outbreaks of foodborne illness.
“We will thoroughly check hygiene and safety in the early part of the semester to prevent hygiene accidents such as food poisoning,” stated Dangjin Education Support Office Superintendent Jeong Eun-young. “We will do our best to create a dining environment where students and parents can sense safe.”
The inspections also assessed adherence to established protocols for managing food supplies, including proper storage temperatures and rotation of stock. Schools were evaluated on their systems for tracking ingredient origins and ensuring compliance with food safety standards.
The Dangjin Education Support Office has not yet released detailed findings from the inspections, but officials indicated that the results will be used to identify areas for improvement and to reinforce best practices in school food service operations. The office has scheduled ongoing communication with school administrators to address any identified deficiencies and to ensure continued adherence to safety protocols.
