The transition period for updating the procurement system and mastering new technological maps as part of the school feeding reform ended on January 1, 2022, the updated menu for school canteens consists of 160 dishes with a limited content of salt, sugar, vegetable and animal fats and offal, the State Service on Food Safety and Consumer Protection reported on its website on Tuesday.
According to the Service, from January 1, 2022, all school institutions are obliged to reduce the amount of sugar in dishes by 2-2.5 times – to 7.5 grams per meal; increase the amount of fruit to 100 grams per meal; reduce the amount of bread per meal from 60-80 grams to 30-50 grams; to increase the amount of poultry and dairy products in the formation of the menu.
Moreover, about 75% of the products in canteens should be of plant origin. Potatoes as a separate dish can be offered no more than twice a week. It is forbidden to boil vegetables for preparing salads the next day, and season salads immediately before serving.
When forming the menu, preference should be given to products with a higher dietary fiber content (for example, buckwheat instead of rice); give preference to high-fiber wholegrain baked goods with added bran and seeds; meat dishes should be combined with vegetable side dishes or salads as often as possible.
According to the State Service on Food Safety and Consumer Protection, saturated fats in meals should not account for more than 10% of the total calories.
Processed cheese is not allowed. Salt can only be used iodized and only for cooking. It is also forbidden to use sauces and mayonnaise (except ketchup), and drinking water should always be available during meals. Juice can be offered in limited quantities without added sugar or sweeteners.
In school cafeterias, it is forbidden to sell sweet baked goods, foods high in sugar or salt, preservatives, artificial coloring agents and food flavoring, carbonated drinks, industrial and culinary meat and fish products, unpasteurized juices and dairy products, coffee and mushrooms.
As reported, the presentation of the new school menu took place in May 2021 with the participation of the country’s first lady Olena Zelenska, Minister of Education and Science Serhiy Shkarlet, Minister of Health Viktor Liashko, Deputy Minister of Economy Serhiy Hluschenko, Head of the State Food Service Vladyslava Mahaletska and chef Yevhen Klopotenko.
