Finally, important changes were made to school meals (new Sanitary Regulations for general secondary education institutions, entry into force on 01.01.2021).
Along with the basic requirements for premises, the educational process, important changes relate to school meals. From now on, the sale of products with synthetic dyes, flavor enhancers and preservatives, coffee, energy drinks, products with vegetable fats, etc. is prohibited in school cafeterias.
But it is very important for the dairy industry that milk and dairy products are included in a separate item 7 of the new Sanitary Regulations.
In particular, this paragraph states that:
- depending on the frequency of meals, children should receive at least 3 servings of milk and dairy products per day: with breakfast, lunch and dinner;
- even with a single meal, the child must receive a dairy product.
And most importantly - the qualitative and quantitative requirements for these products are defined. If butter - then not less than 72% milk fat (not just fat, namely MILK fat). If sour cream - not less than 15%, and cottage cheese (sour milk cheese) - not less than 5% of fat.
The Association of Milk Producers supports this initiative. We are glad that finally dairy products have a chance to take a worthy place in the diet of children.
But three extremely important issues remain open - the order of fair and transparent procurement, product safety control, the inadmissibility of counterfeiting and substandard products in children's nutrition.
In case of questions regarding school meals, the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection provides the telephone number of the hotline: (044) 364 77 80
More details about the features of the new sanitary regulations at the link on the website of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine: https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/z1111-20#Text