In Spain, many school canteens are serving up unhealthy meals. A recent study shows that nearly one in three canteens dish out too many fried foods while failing to provide enough fresh vegetables.
The study highlights some troubling stats from 2023. About 29% of schools serve three or more portions of fried food each week, surpassing the recommended limit of two. On the flip side, over 37% of canteens offer only two or fewer portions of fresh veggies weekly, falling short of the suggested three to four portions. Shockingly, around 7% of canteens never serve fish, and 16% don’t meet the fruit recommendations of four to five portions per week.
Furthermore, a significant portion of these menus lacks professional oversight. One-third of school menus aren’t managed by individuals with nutrition expertise. Plus, more than 70% of canteens aren’t using healthier oils like olive or sunflower oil for frying.
These findings come as the Spanish government gears up to pass new laws aimed at tackling childhood obesity. Officials aim to prioritize healthy eating by enforcing existing food agency recommendations.
The Ministry of Consumer Affairs plans to ban sugary drinks during school meals. It noted a chilling trend: the percentage of schools offering only water at mealtimes dropped from 99.7% in 2021 to below 85% in 2023.
Consumer Affairs Minister Pablo Bustinduy stressed the need to address the issue of socio-economic factors influencing children’s health. He remarked that food choices shouldn’t depend on where a child lives. A recent report revealed that nearly a third of primary school-aged children in Europe are either overweight or obese, with many facing poverty or social exclusion.
Experts believe all children should have access to at least one nutritious meal each day. This need is more pressing than ever due to the rising cost of living, which has strained many families across Europe. Advocates from the SchoolFood4Change project argue for a standard that guarantees healthy school meals for all children, regardless of their background.
