16/09/2025
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16/09/2025
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Kuwait implements new regulations for school canteens to boost food safety and nutrition.
KUWAIT CITY, Sept 16: With the start of the new academic year, attention is turning to school canteens as an important part of the educational environment and a major contributor to student health. In this context, the Public Authority for Food and Nutrition (PAFN) announced a comprehensive plan to regulate school canteen operations and provide healthy, safe meals, with the approval of 20 supply companies that meet the highest nutritional standards. Director General of the Public Authority for Food and Nutrition (PAFN) Dr. Reem Al-Faleej affirmed the authority’s strong commitment to the role of school canteens in supporting student health and encouraging healthy lifestyles
She explained that the new plan for the 2025/2026 academic year includes a set of procedures and requirements designed to provide healthy and safe meals that cater to students’ daily nutritional needs. The authority approved 20 companies that specialize in supplying and investing in school canteens after a thorough review of their applications and verification of their compliance with health and nutritional standards, from a total of 36 applicants.
The selection prioritized the most efficient and compliant companies. The approved food list includes carefully selected healthy products rich in protein and fiber, providing natural alternatives to unhealthy eating habits. Selling soft drinks, energy drinks, foods high in saturated fats, and those with high sugar content is banned inside schools.
Dr. Al-Faleej stressed that the authority has established a daily monitoring and inspection plan for school canteens through specialized teams. She affirmed strict action against any violations to protect students’ health, adding that this is part of a national plan to prevent obesity and chronic diseases, in line with the New Kuwait 2035 vision.
Meanwhile, Deputy Director General of the Community Nutrition Sector Dr. Shaimaa Al-Asfour said the success of school canteen regulation initiatives depends not only on government measures but also on active partnership between schools, families, and the private sector to ensure sustainable positive changes in the dietary habits of future generations.
She emphasized that these efforts are part of a national strategy to enhance community health, noting that building a nutrition-aware generation requires the combined efforts of all governmental and civil organizations. Dr. Al-Asfour also offered a set of recommendations for students and parents to encourage healthy eating habits in schools.
By Marwa Al-Bahrawi
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff
