WHO announces new global standards for school nutrition

According to the new guidelines developed by the organization, all food and beverages provided in schools must be healthy, safe, and rich in nutritional value. This approach should be applied across the entire school environment.

WHO emphasizes that a healthy food environment created in schools plays a crucial role in shaping lifelong healthy eating habits among children. For the first time, the organization recommends that countries implement a “whole-school approach.” This approach covers not only meals served at schools, but also all food environments within and around schools, including canteens, vending machines, and nearby food outlets.

According to available data, cases of overweight and obesity among children worldwide are increasing rapidly, while undernutrition remains a serious challenge. In 2025, approximately 188 million school-aged children and adolescents worldwide were affected by obesity, surpassing for the first time the number of children who are underweight. As a result, schools have become a key battleground in addressing this “double burden of malnutrition.”

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that the food children consume at school and the food environment surrounding them have long-term effects on both learning outcomes and their health and well-being: “Ensuring proper nutrition at school is critical to preventing diseases in the future and building a healthier society.”

Currently, around 466 million children worldwide receive school meals. However, information on the nutritional quality of the food provided remains limited. For this reason, WHO has identified strengthening healthy food provision in schools as a top priority.

According to the new recommendations, schools should:
– increase the availability, accessibility, and consumption of healthy foods and beverages;
– limit the use of products high in sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats;
– implement incentive mechanisms that guide children toward healthier choices (such as food presentation, placement, and pricing policies).

WHO notes that the existence of policy documents alone is not sufficient; monitoring and enforcement mechanisms must also be strengthened. According to the Global Information System on the Implementation of Nutrition Action (GIFNA), as of October 2025, 104 countries have policies related to healthy school nutrition. Approximately two-thirds of these countries have established mandatory standards for the composition of school meals. However, only 48 countries have introduced restrictions on the advertising of products high in sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats.

The new guideline is a key component of WHO’s global strategy implemented under the obesity prevention acceleration plan and the “nutrition-friendly schools” initiative. The document supports action at both national and local levels and highlights the important role of city and district authorities in this process.