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المملكة: Updates to requirements for school canteens… banning processed meats and sugars

The Ministry of Education announced the launch of the updated health requirements guide for providing school nutrition services in school canteens, which aims to improve the quality of school nutrition and provide healthy and balanced meals that enhance the health of male and female students and contribute to improving their educational environment.
The Ministry confirmed that the preparation of the updated guide comes in cooperation with the Technical Committee for School Nutrition, which includes representatives of the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, the Food and Drug Authority, and the Public Health Authority, with the aim of applying the latest nutritional standards and providing healthy food options that keep pace with scientific developments..
The Ministry stressed the need to adhere to the application of the updated guide in all school canteens as of the beginning of the current academic year, as the guide includes a clear and comprehensive classification of drinks and foods that are permitted and not permitted to be served.
The guide specified a list of impermissible drinks, which includes concentrated or condensed milk, milk with artificial flavors or colors, yogurt with artificial flavors or colors, frozen yogurt, carbonated water, royal drinking water, juices that contain added sugars, preservatives, or artificial colors, energy drinks, and manufactured cold drinks that contain flavors. And artificial colors in addition to coffee, cocoa and sweetened hot drinks.

It is also prohibited to serve frozen or processed meat such as sausages, burgers, poultry, fish, dishes containing meat or poultry, fried foods such as French fries, potato chips, pies, sandwiches containing mayonnaise, sweets of all kinds such as chocolate, biscuits and nuts with added colours, in addition to crunchy snacks such as potato chips. Pre-packaged ice cream, sweetened or artificially flavored gum, frozen or canned foods containing substances Portfolio.
The guide also included a ban on serving artificial grape syrup, mayonnaise, ghee, unhealthy oils, and any food additives containing artificial flavors or colors. It also prohibited serving unwashed or unsanitary fruits or vegetables, or salads with ready-made sauces added to them.
The Ministry called on all schools to adhere to the updated guide and direct any inquiries or comments to the student services team to ensure that health requirements are accurately implemented, stressing that this step comes within its ongoing efforts to enhance the health of male and female students and provide a safe educational environment that supports the quality of their school lives and improves their academic performance.

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