In Russia, they propose to introduce a single standard for hot meals in schools

State Duma deputies, together with the leader of the Just Russia party, Sergei Mironov, sent an appeal to Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin with a proposal to introduce a single standard for hot meals in schools. This is reported by the publication “Izvestia”.

As conceived by the deputies, schools should create equal nutritional conditions for all schoolchildren, taking into account their chronic diseases, personal intolerance and specific products that correspond to regional and national characteristics.

Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova said that from September 1, all students in Russian schools will be provided with hot meals. In 2023, 67 billion rubles will be allocated from the budget for these purposes.

However, Andrey Plyshevsky, chairman of the Association of Social Catering Operators, pointed out factors that could become an obstacle to the implementation of the deputies’ idea. For example, schools in different localities may have different kitchen equipment, as well as food prices.

Plyshevsky also noted that with the increase in prices for products used in school meals, funding for this area increased less than the increase in prices. He gave an example of changing the composition of food, where, for example, more rice and chicken are added to meatballs instead of beef. This can affect the quality of the dishes, although their nutritional value remains the same.

According to Tatyana Solodneva, general director of the Druzhba school catering plant in Samara, at present, 80% of parents in the Samara region pay extra for their children’s meals from their own funds.