India's school meals break generational undernutrition cycles, study reveals
A new study has revealed long-term benefits from India’s Mid-Day Meal (MDM) scheme, the world’s largest school feeding programme. Researchers found that women who received free meals in primary school now have children with better growth outcomes. The findings suggest that school meals may help break cycles of undernutrition across generations. India’s MDM scheme serves millions of children daily, aiming to boost school attendance and health. Previous assessments already linked the programme to improved learning, higher attendance rates, and better resilience against illness. Yet, until now, its role in reducing stunting—chronic undernutrition—remained unclear, as the scheme targets children beyond the critical 'first 1000 days' of life.
The study, published in *Nature Communications*, tracked women who had accessed free school meals as children. Their offspring showed significantly better linear growth compared to peers whose mothers had not benefited from the scheme. Researchers argue that school feeding programmes could influence education, healthcare access, and fertility choices, indirectly improving nutrition for the next generation. The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), which contributed to the study, emphasises sustainable solutions to combat hunger. While the results highlight the programme’s potential, the team calls for further investigation. Questions remain about whether enhancing meal quality, increasing portions, or extending coverage beyond primary school could amplify these benefits. India carries the world’s highest burden of undernourished children, making such interventions critical. The study’s DOI, 10.1038/s41467-021-24433-w, provides access to the full findings.
The research confirms that investing in school meals decades ago still yields measurable improvements in child health today. By supporting girls’ nutrition during primary school, the MDM scheme appears to create lasting impacts on their children’s growth. Policymakers now have stronger evidence to consider expanding or refining such programmes to tackle intergenerational undernutrition.
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