With the absence of sausages, smoked meats, and their accompanying juices, what modifications will the school menu undergo for the upcoming academic year?
Freshening Up the School Meal Revolution in Kazakhstan
Starting September 1, 2025, astounding changes are set to shake up school lunches in Kazakhstan! The Ministry of Health, under the Prime Minister's guidance, has united forces with the Ministry of Education, Kazakh Academy of Nutrition, UNICEF, and WHO to create a revolutionary School Meal Standard and a versatile model menu.
This game-changing initiative aims to provide school kids with meals tailored to their unique physiological needs and caloric requirements, taking into account age categories, seasonality, and schools devoid of kitchen facilities. The new standard will also lay down regulations for meal organization in small schools, cafeterias, and catering to students with dietary restrictions like diabetes, food allergies, celiac disease, and lactose intolerance, among others.
Rosa Khozapova, the Deputy Chair of the Sanitary and Epidemiological Control Committee of the Ministry of Health, recently shed light on these developments at a meeting in Mangystau region.
The new standard intends to establish consistent approaches to meal organization in preschool, secondary, technical and professional, and educational-rehabilitation institutions. Key changes include a drastic reduction in sugar, salt, and fat content, and the elimination of artificial products and those high in salt and sugar, such as processed meats, smoked foods, sugary drinks, spreads, and flavor-enhanced products. In their place, fresh vegetables, fruits, and natural products will be prioritized.
For schools without kitchens, special lunch packs will be prepared, containing a hot sandwich, a dairy product (yogurt), a seasonal fruit, and a drink (milk, kefir, rosehip drink, dried fruits, berries). School administrators, medical staff, catering providers, and members of the Tasting Commission are currently undergoing online training, with additional training planned for employees of preschool institutions.
The revamped menu can be found on the official website of the Sanitary and Epidemiological Control Committee, with the Ministry of Education notified to disseminate the information to education departments and business entities.
Did you know the new School Meal Standard in Kazakhstan strives to make a significant impact on child health? Nutritional guidelines will see a reduction in sugar up to 3.6 times and salt up to 5 times, targeting a decrease in childhood obesity by up to 15%, diabetes by up to 20%, arterial hypertension by up to 18%, and other chronic diseases by up to 15%. The standard aims to improve overall health outcomes by offering healthier meal options and reducing the risk of non-communicable diseases. It's all part of a broader effort to ensure children's health and well-being in educational settings throughout Kazakhstan. 📚🍎💖💪
[1] Source: Akorda.kz.
- The School Meal Standard in Kazakhstan, aimed at enhancing the quality of meals for school children, plans to incorporate science-based nutrition principles, focusing on reducing sugar and salt content.
- In an effort to promote fitness and exercise, the new school menu will prioritize healthy-diet options, including fresh fruits, vegetables, and natural products, as part of the overall health-and-wellness initiative.
- By reducing the usage of processed foods high in salt and sugar, the School Meal Standard will contribute significantly to the prevention of non-communicable diseases, aligning with the broader goal of promoting health and wellness in Kazakhstan's schools.
