Enviro News Asia, Jenewa — The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a new guideline to support countries in creating healthier school food environments, recognizing schools as a critical setting for shaping children’s dietary habits and reducing health and nutrition inequities.
The guideline highlights that children spend a significant portion of their day in school, where food availability and promotion strongly influence lifelong eating behaviors. However, WHO notes that foods commonly available in and around schools often contain high levels of saturated fats, trans-fatty acids, free sugars, and salt, and frequently fail to align with national dietary recommendations.
To address this challenge, the WHO guideline provides Member States with evidence-based policy recommendations and practical implementation considerations to improve school food environments. The guidance focuses on three key areas: direct food provision in schools, nutrition standards or rules for foods and beverages served or sold on school premises, and nudging interventions that modify food environments to encourage healthier choices.
The recommendations aim to increase the availability, purchase, and consumption of foods and beverages that support healthy diets, while reducing children’s exposure to and consumption of unhealthy products. WHO emphasizes that food environments in schools should consistently promote safety, nutrition, and well-being.
The guideline also underscores the importance of aligning school food policies with children’s rights, national public health objectives, and broader strategies to prevent diet-related noncommunicable diseases.
WHO encourages governments to adopt and adapt the recommendations within their national contexts to ensure that school food environments contribute positively to child health, development, and long-term well-being. (*)
