School Food and Nutrition in Europe: policies, interventions and their impact

This publication focuses on policies that schools can implement in order to create a healthier and more sustainable lifestyle (food-wise) for their students. 

Executive Summary

Childhood overweight and obesity are on the rise in Europe. According to the WHO 1 in 3 children ages 6-9 years were overweight (incl. obesity) in 2010; up from 1 in 4 children of the same age in 2008.¹ Schools are considered a protected environment where children should learn healthy diet and lifestyle habits early on.To this end, Member States have developed policies to guide school food provision among other important aspects. On 15-16 May 2014, the JRC in collaboration with WHO Europe and Public Health Nutrition Research Ltd., hosted a workshop entitled "School Food and Nutrition in Europe: policies, interventions and their impact" at its site in Ispra, Italy. Forty-six participants from national ministries, academia and non-governmental organisations reviewed and discussed the current state of European school food policy, assessed knowledge gaps and suggested promising ways forward.