Chinese authorities have summoned officials from the northeastern city of Benxi after allegations surfaced that a school cafeteria served leftover food from a garbage bin to students, media reported on Sunday.

The office of the food safety commission under the State Council, along with the Ministry of Education and the State Administration for Market Regulation, held a meeting on Wednesday with Benxi's city government in Liaoning province, according to a report by China Central Television.

Officials called the incident "extremely serious" and said it revealed lapses in school oversight and food safety management.

Officials criticized the school for failing to enforce proper management, describing the incident as a severe breach of public trust in campus safety standards.

In response, authorities instructed Benxi officials to take swift action to address food safety risks and strengthen accountability mechanisms. The city was ordered to inspect school cafeterias, enforce stricter regulations, and implement systemic reforms to prevent future incidents.

The office of the food safety commission under the State Council said it would conduct on-site inspections to monitor the city's progress in implementing the required changes.